Prince William is following in the footsteps of his father by learning to fly.

The young royal will don overalls and a helmet to fulfil a long-held ambition as he learns piloting with the RAF.

He will take to the skies with an instructor to earn his wings just like the Prince of Wales did more than 35 years ago.

The training is part of a four-month attachment with the RAF to help William, 25, get to grips with the service's ethos, traditions and military role as he prepares to, one day, head the armed forces.

The prince, an officer with the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, begins his training on Monday with a class of around 11 students at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

He is a Second Lieutenant and a trained troop commander in charge of armoured Scimitar vehicles but during his placement will be known as Flying Officer William Wales - equivalent to his Army rank - and wear an RAF uniform.

Earlier, the heir to the throne met patients and staff evacuated from the blaze-hit Royal Marsden Hospital.

The prince, who is president of the hospital, spoke to cancer patients moved to The Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, south-west London, after Wednesday's fire.

More than 150 patients and about 200 staff were evacuated from The Royal Marsden after a huge blaze took hold in the upper floors and roof.

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