Britain's Prince William has left the armed forces and his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, Kensington Palace said Thursday, dpa reported.
The announcement had been expected after the birth of his first child, Prince George, in July. As future king - and head of the armed forces - he is expected to take on more royal duties from his ageing grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The 31-year-old, who graduated as an officer from a military academy in 2006, spent seven and a half years in the armed forces. He began the job as a search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, north Wales, in 2010, after completing training as an RAF pilot.
The palace said he would continue with his charity work and his activities "in the field of conservation" and that he was still considering "a number of options for public service."