Queen tells William she'll be praying for him
Prince William will celebrate his passing out at a military ball tonight
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Friday, 15, Dec 2006 12:20
Prince William has today embarked on the next step in his military career with his grandmother promising to pray for his safety.
William and his fellow officer cadets are graduating from the Sandhurst military academy today in what Queen Elizabeth called a "milestone day" for each of them.
The eldest son of Prince Charles, and second in line to the throne behind his father, is following in the footsteps of his younger brother Harry, who passed out of the Surrey training school in April this year.
A ceremony to mark the occasion was attended by the Queen, as well as Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and William's girlfriend Kate Middleton.
During her Sovereign's Parade speech to the cadets, the Queen told each one of them they were "very special people".
"My prayers for your success and safety will follow you wherever you serve.I extend my congratulations to you all," she said.
She added that the military drill the graduates had performed this morning exemplified "the high standards [Sandhurst] continues to demand of its cadets".
"A great deal will be expected of you," she said in her speech.
"You must be courageous yet selfless, leaders yet carers, confident yet considerate. You must be all these things in some of the most challenging environments around the world so that men and women will follow your lead."
Today's passing out parade comes in what has already been a busy week for William and his brother.
The pair announced at the beginning of the week a memorial service and concert for their late mother, Princess Diana, and tickets to the July 1st gig sold out within 20 minutes on Wednesday.
And yesterday the brothers called for an end to rumours about conspiracies being behind their mother's death in 1997, following a comprehensive report by former Metropolitan police commissioner Lord Stevens into the Paris car crash that killed her.
"Prince William and Prince Harry have received a copy of the report from Lord Stevens personally," a joint statement from Clarence House read yesterday.
"They are extremely grateful to Lord Stevens and his team for the thoroughness and professionalism they have shown during their investigation, and trust that these conclusive findings will end the speculation surrounding the death of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales."
After today's ceremony William will go on to join the Blues and Royals regiment in the Household Cavalry and spend some time with both the navy and army before taking on responsibilities more specific to the royal family.