Post date: Sep 12, 2013 2:40:27 PM
Prince William speaks to CNN of his passion for African conservation and how fatherhood has changed him emotionally in a documentary interview to be broadcast on Sunday, September 15.
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 02, 2013) (CNN) - Britain's Prince William, who became a father for the first time in July, is to step down from the military and will focus on his charity and royal duties for the immediate future, his office said on Thursday (Sept 12).
William, 31, second in line to the throne, has been working as a search and rescue helicopter pilot with Britain'sRoyal Air Force in north Wales and has spent 7-1/2 years in the armed forces."This is a transitional year for him," a spokeswoman said. "He's going to take this year to focus on his charity work, his royal engagements and particularly his work in the field of conservation."
The prince's passion for conservation is well documented. In a forthcoming documentary, produced by CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster, the Duke of Cambridge recalls how he fell in love with the African landscape which gave him a sense of "freedom" that his life as a royal rarely afforded.
"For me, it's the sense of freedom being out in the middle of nowhere in Africa, just seeing the beauty of nature and the natural world is just phenomenal. It's fantastic," he explained in an interview to be broadcast at the weekend.
Having captured his heart, William felt compelled to get involved in conservation, driven by a desire "to stand up for what is very vulnerable, what needs protecting."
On July 22, the Duke of Cambridge became a father for the first time when his son, Prince George was born. On the subject of fatherhood, William admitted that his son's birth been a life-changing experience.
"I think the last few weeks for me have been just a very different emotional experience, something I never thought I'd feel myself and I find, again, it's only been a short period, but a lot of things affect me differently now," he said.
The documentary, "Prince William's Passion: New Father, New Hope" will be aired on Sunday, September 15.