A little downtime Down Under! Prince Harry spent the past two weeks on military duty in Australia, and while much of his time is dedicated to serious work with the Australian Army, the charming royal also had a moment for some fun.
Harry, 30, who is serving on attachment with the Australian Army’s North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) and 1st Brigade, participated in a game of wheelchair Australian Football with fellow members of the brigade, as well as injured and ill veterans from the Soldier Recovery Centre.
A competitive team sport that incorporates aspects of rugby, American football, and soccer, Australian Rules Football is adapted for those in wheelchairs with similar rules. Harry got to know some of the servicemen as he faced off in the showdown of the red team versus the blue team.
The redheaded royal, who is soon to be an uncle again when his sister-in-law Kate Middleton gives birth in the coming weeks, also spent time with local aboriginal communities while in Australia. According to a release from the Palace, he “met with locals of the Wuggubun community in the Kununurra region of Western Australia,” and engaged with “elders and children of the indigenous community.”
When he wasn’t mixing and mingling, Prince William‘s brother had no-nonsense training with the armed forces. He went through flight simulation training and traveled with the 1st Aviation Regiment on an Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Tiger from the Darwin, Australia army base Robertson Barracks.
Prince Harry, who serves as a Captain after completing earlier stints as a Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant, also trained with the local 1st Brigade in physical readiness, field exercises, and combat training. The son of the late Princess Diana is scheduled to continue his work with the Australian Army, making stops in Perth and Sydney in the coming days.
