PRINCE William has arrived in Purbeck to begin a specialist training course in how to command reconnaissance units.

The 24-year-old, who is a member of the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, is moving to the officers' mess at Bovington Army Camp from Combermere Barracks in Windsor.

The second-in-line to the throne, who graduated from Sandhurst in December, is following in the footsteps of younger brother Harry who completed the same six-month course in October last year.

Officers from the Royal Protection Squad are expected to accompany him.

Captain Jim Purnell said security at the camp was the same, despite the presence of the royal recruit.

He added: "We expect him to pass through here as his brother did successfully."

William will spend time undergoing signals training, learning how to use radio systems and digital mapping. Next he will learn to drive and maintain an armoured tracked vehicle and command a crew.

Then follows five weeks of gunnery training on live firing ranges at Lulworth Camp, which includes operating thermal imaging systems and learning to load and fire a 7.62 machine gun and 30mm cannon.

The final month of the course will be at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, where the Prince will be trained in fitness, map reading and decision making.

Once trained, Cornet Wales will be able to take charge of around a dozen soldiers equipped with four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles, which are used to scout out the enemy.

Such "recce'" units are the commander's eyes and ears, tasked with finding out about the enemy and the terrain ahead.