LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry has formally ended his full-time military service in Britain’s army, wrapping up a career in which he qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot and completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The announcement that Friday was Harry’s final day was widely anticipated. The fifth in line to the throne had revealed in March that he intended to end his service to take a more vigorous role in his charitable endeavors.
Kensington Palace says the prince will work with experts in wildlife protection in Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana, sometimes helping rangers respond to reports of poaching attacks on elephants and rhinos.
The 30-year-old will work with the Zoological Society of London, which hopes Harry will become one of the “best-informed ambassadors for the conservation community.”