Prince Harry Promoted to Captain in Air Corps

The younger U.K. Prince has been promoted to captain in the Air Corps.

ByABC News
April 17, 2011, 7:12 PM

April 17, 2011— -- Amid the frenzy of preparations for the upcoming royal wedding, the U.K.'s younger prince had a moment of glory of his own this weekend, when it was announced he has been promoted to captain in the Air Corps.

According the St. James's Palace, Harry, who is third in line to the throne, will now be known as Capt. Harry Wales. The 26-year-old was formerly a lieutenant and trainee Apache helicopter pilot.

The prince also received his Apache badge on Thursday, which marks the completion of an eight-month course that includes night flying and ground school training.

This puts him one step closer to becoming an Army Air Corps pilot, as now he is able to fly the aircraft without an instructor and has progressed to a further weapons handling course.

Harry became an army officer in April 2006, after a 44-week training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, southwest of London, where he was known as Officer Cadet Wales.

By the time he reached the rank of lieutenant in 2008, he had served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan as an air controller.

The prince is the first member of the British royal family to serve in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, flew helicopters during the Falklands War in 1982.

In addition to his new military rank, Harry's other major responsibility will be taking on best man duties at his brother Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton in London on April 29.