Shropshire Magazine

Princes William and Harry at RAF Shawbury.

Deborah Collins was one of a select few journalists invited to meet young royals, Princes William and Harry, stationed at RAF Shawbury

Prince Harry snores a lot and keeps his brother up all night long, Prince William says.

The princes’ sleeping habits were revealed in a rare glimpse into their personal lives when they chatted to specially invited journalists at RAF Shawbury where they are currently both based.

William, 26, has been stationed at Shawbury since January and is training to become an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot. Harry, 24, arrived at the base last month and is training to be an Army Air Corps helicopter pilot. Both are training at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at the base.

The brothers laughed, joked and teased each other as they talked about their training, their hopes for the future and their life together.

Harry vowed it would be the “first and last” time they would be living together while William quipped that it had been a “fairly emotional experience”.

Harry, who is known as Lieutenant Henry Wales at the base, said his course was hard work, but added: “I’m better than William so it’s fine”.

When Harry said his brother “has definitely got more brains than me”, saying he was much more hands on, William joked “I’ve got more than brains – looks as well.”

But the brothers also spoke seriously about their hopes for their careers. Harry served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan last year and his elder brother hinted that he wished to emulate his achievement. 

Hopeful

When asked if he thought an operational role was an impossibility, he replied: “In my mind, of course, you talk to everyone else and it’s impossible. I still remain hopeful there’s a chance.” 

William said he did not join the forces to be “mollycoddled” or treated differently to other service personnel.

He said: “As far as I am concerned if I can do it, I can do it. I think as future head of the Armed Forces it’s really important you at least get the opportunity to be credible and to do the job I signed up for, as best I can. That’s all I want to do. 

“The search and rescue role is now slightly different to obviously being able to go to Afghanistan, but it’s still doing an important job.” 

Harry said: “We’re both here just doing our bit, trying to become helicopter pilots. We’re having a fantastic time. Yes, it’s hard work but everything is hard work nowadays. Sometimes there is added pressure but you just deal with it and get on with it.”

Harry said he was “massively” confident he could make a return to the front line after he finished his training at a RAF Shawbury.