Prince William wants to serve on Afghan front line

The 28-year-old prince, who is second in line to the throne, completed his first shift as an RAF search and rescue co-pilot a few weeks ago.

In a documentary about his visit to Botswana earlier this year, William said he wants to head to Afghanistan where Britain has some 10,000 troops as part of a NATO-led force fighting a fierce Taliban insurgency.

His brother Prince Harry, 26, served with the army in Afghanistan for 10 weeks but was withdrawn in 2008 after media reported the deployment, triggering security fears.

William expressed his desire to go to Afghanistan when he talked of a time that as an officer in the Household Cavalry regiment some of his unit were deployed there.

"My heart was in the army and that\'s why I first joined them," he told the documentary for Sky 1 television

"It\'s just a pity I didn\'t get to Afghanistan. Which, you know, many people say \'well that\'s very understandable\'.

"There are some slightly valid arguments as to why not, but many of them are hyped up as to why (I) couldn\'t go.

"I still have hope and faith and a real determination to go out there."

A total of 340 British servicemen have lost their lives in Afghanistan since the start of the military campaign in 2001.

The royal brothers visited southern Africa during June and the first leg of their trip to Botswana was filmed for the documentary "Prince William\'s Africa", which is broadcast Wednesday.

The pair are filmed in the African bush seeing wildlife and projects supported by the British-based charity Tusk Trust, a conservation organisation of which William is royal patron.

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