Prince William will take to the water to learn boat handling skills as he begins his two-month attachment with the Royal Navy.

Sub-Lieutenant Wales, as he is known in the service, will join other naval recruits practising manoeuvres in a small vessel on the River Dart in Dartmouth.

William will spend the next three weeks undergoing basic naval training, to learn core skills like navigation and sea safety and touring various units like the Royal Marines and Fleet Air Arm.

The remaining five weeks will be spent with the frigate HMS Iron Duke on duty in the North Atlantic, where the prince is expected to join Navy patrols searching for drug runners in Caribbean waters.

He could also find himself helping to provide humanitarian relief if a hurricane strikes the region.

Iron Duke's Commander Mark Newland, 42, said: "His activities will be primarily based around watch-keeping, ship-driving as well as contributing to the counter-drugs planning as well as a primary role in our disaster relief planning operations as well.

"But also to educate him in the way of the Royal Navy, at the strategic level as well. Why we are in a theatre of operations like this and what we can do to help."

William is an officer with the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals and earlier this year completed a four-month attachment with the RAF.

His time with the Navy will complete a project to familiarise him with Britain's services - an essential experience as the prince will one day be head of the armed forces.

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