To think that after all the money spent on their military training that Harry and William should have proper jobs?

[Sixweekstowait]

Just that really - all they ever seem to do is go to sporting events

"You can, yes. If you have performed well at pre RCB and RCB - which Harry did."

And anyone who applies gets a crack at them, do they?

Yep, Including currently serving soldiers with no qualifications at all.

I wonder what jobs they would be doing if they had gone to the local comprehensive school, and had to leave at 16 to bring money in for the family like the rest of us?

It's not like that's the only choice available to people in the UK leave school at 16 to go down t'mine, or be a member of the Royal Family!

Who knows what William would be but it sounds from those who know a bit about Harry's aptitude and the recruitment process that he might well have joined the Army anyway and be Captain Wales by now.

I left school at 15, worked in the building trade for 2 years, was a barmaid for 6 months then joined the Army. When I was a Cpl I passed Pre-RCB with only 5 GCSE passes. I didn't go on to RCB though as the 'taster' day put me off Sandhurst. I've just completed a full 24 years service.

My DH grew up in severe poverty, left school at 16, got an apprenticeship as a plasterer but then joined the Army because he needed to bring some money in for his mum and baby sister. He paid their mortgage and food bills for the first 3 years of his career. He left 9 years ago after 22 years service.

Maybe Harry would have joined the Army in any case - he certainly is a round peg in a round hole and is excelling at what he does.

It's so good to have someone who KNOWS rather than believes the crap they read EveDallasRetd.

I've read on this thread that Kate has two children and that Harry couldn't have got into flying with his qualifications. Why do people present as fact stuff they only know as gossip?

Do you normally get into Sandhurst with a C and a D at A level? Not,non this occasion, a snipe, but a genuine question.

No, Hakluyt you don't. Atm you need 240 UCAS points to get into Sandhurst, a C& a D would give you 140.

That's now though Fairy. It's previous been as low as either 120 or 130. And how you perform at AOSB is a big precursor. Remember we have also taken on FC soldiers and officers with non UK recognised quals.

Same for the RAF and also, anyone from the RN or Army wanting to fly needs to go to RAF Cranwell Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre to pass the aptitude tests and medical. Harry and William would have needed to have passed or as near as dammit. If they'd been terrible or with kidney stones or something, they genuinely would not have been able to undertake flying training. Oh and I do know that they undertook the aptitude tests .

I always thought that Beatrice would have been a good role model in the Armed Forces and no we don't expect her to undertake royal duties, but I thought it would have been good to see a young female royal doing something like that.

Yes it is now.

I googled it was 140 when he went, so he scrapped in with the bare minimum when 83% of entrants are graduates, and that wouldn't have had the slightest but to do with who he was? I personally think it did!

For the flying, I agree Kate I don't agree for the officer entry.

You don't agree with what for the officer entry?

Plenty of people without "proper" jobs about, whether you are on benefits or supported by your partner, would it not be an outcry if op had asked any of them to get a proper job?

In the RAF and RN if you want to be a pilot, you have to be an officer.

My friend is a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

He is leaving the army after his next tour ends, November I think. He is 30.

It's not the sort of job you can do for life, and they give a hell of a lot.

They don't have search and rescue pilots in the Army. Is he RN or RAF?

I don't agree that they went through the same selection process for officer entry as everyone else.

I am perfectly aware that in the RAF and RN you have to be an officer to fly!

Oh right! , sorry! They did both undertake the full RCB. William did not do a separate OASC for the RAF as he was already an Army Officer but he did get interviewed after his aptitude tests.

But you don't know Fairy - you're guessing - which is how a lot of this gossip starts.

Fairy, I've said this on here before (and you've probably read it!) He did exceptionally well at Pre RCB and RCB - and less the practical tests, they didn't know who they were marking. His scores were very high indeed and meant he came in the top 5%. All those potential officers got in. The marking had to be blind so we weren't accused of favouritism.

Plenty of potential officers get in with the minimum requirements, otherwise there wouldn't be a minimum. I do n't think there was anything suspect about Harry's entry to Sandhurst, in fact I'd be willing to place a bet that he would have had it far harder once he was there - just to prove he wasnt getting preferential treatment for who he was. The Trg SSgts certainly expected him to be better than the rest to successfully pass.

It's harder to get into Sandhurst now because they are 'fully booked' for the next 3 years. They can afford to be choosy, 10 years ago they couldn't.

No idea which service, I assumed army cos of the uniform!

Will find out. Anyway, he is going into private piloting, and needs to pay a considerable sum to take his pilot exams privately as apparently the military ones he has aren't transferable?

I don't think it's as easy as saying they are 30/32 and therefore have an easy life. It's not like working in a shop for 6 years.

In addition, look at what is expected of William throughout his life. The queen is what, 90? How many of us expect to be working - in any capacity - at 90?

Looks like RAF but not 100%

It's hardly surprising that the Queen and Prince Charles still do the majority of royal engagements as there is so much protocol and politics involved; there are certain situations where for us to send "only" the second in line to the throne would be seen as a snub.

As the Windsors seem to be an above-averagely long-lived family, it's a comparatively rare situation to have three generations - reigning monarch, heir and heir's son (plus heir's 'spare'!) - all physically able and functioning adults; there wouldn't usually be so many of them 'of age' at the same time between whom to divide up the royal engagements.

My question above about Andrew's daughters was a question and nothing whatsoever to do with whether we support them. I have no idea what their jobs are or if they have jobs.

I have read - so gossip only - that Andrew is keen for them to take part in Royal duties, as the only 'blood' princesses. However Charles wants a slimmed down monarchy, so they've been cast out! Isn't Eugenie working in New York at the moment - don't know what Beatrice is up to.

And Andrew is financed directly by the Queen.