The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that Prince William will spend time with Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, and General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, when he returns to his Army service in September.

Intriguingly, he will also serve with the Special Forces, the SAS, and possibly the SBS, but will not be involved in forward operations. This placement is at his own request, the BBC reports.

In the four or five months remaining of his military service, William will be shown what goes on at the very apex of the Services’ hierarchy with the highest of the top brass, deep in the MoD building in Whitehall. It will be the culmination of an action-packed and wide-ranging three-year training period to prepare him for his future role as Head of the Armed Forces.

From tomorrow, the Prince will be on holiday in Mustique with girlfriend Kate Middleton, who has already flown out to the Caribbean to be with him. It has been reported that she refused a free upgrade to First Class on the BA flight, preferring to be treated like everyone else. “Please call me Kate,” she told cabin crew, putting an end to recent confusion over her preferred name.

On the couple’s return, they are expected to spend a week with the Queen and the Prince of Wales at Balmoral in Scotland. Some news sources are claiming that plans for a summer wedding next year are well underway and will be put to bed in August. At the very least a hint of an announcement may just leak out of the grand Scottish castle to set Royalist hearts aflutter all over again.

In the BBC footage this morning I was struck by William’s growing maturity and poise. In full Navy kit he no longer resembles his mother, but bears a striking likeness to the young Prince Philip, his grandfather.

It’s a very good omen.

Is this where Zara Phillips gets her ability to jump over obstacles on horseback?

The Queen and Prince Charles helping Princess Anne into Balmoral

She certainly looks the part of a future Olympic sportswoman. A very young Princess Anne is shown being helped to climb into a window at Balmoral by the Queen and a youthful Prince Charles.

Nowadays, of course, such “shocking” behaviour would fall foul of the European Union’s “health and safety” rules. And she hasn’t even got a hard hat on!

Children do need adventure and real learning experiences. Both youngsters grew up to be fearless horse riders.

Methinks the Queen was a much better mother than she’s often given credit for.

This is one of the pictures released by the Palace in advance of Prince Charles’s 60th birthday next November.

The London Evening Standard is reporting that Prince Philip, who is about to celebrate the longest marriage to a reigning Monarch, has a secret heart condition. He has suffered from it for the past 15 years.

Prince Philip (left) at the Highland Games this summer

The Prince, who is 86, suffered a bout of ill-health recently which caused much concern in the Royal Family. However, he has insisted on carrying out his busy schedule of Royal engagements.

The Palace has apparently brought forward the task of preparing Prince William and Prince Harry for their future official roles.

An aide told the paper, “Prince Philip in particular is acutely aware of the need to prepare for the future”.

The Duke “has to take medication regularly and his bodyguards and aides are on constant alert to take him to hospital instantly if he becomes dizzy or short of breath”.

An unnamed courtier said, “The Queen and the family have been been concerned about the Duke in recent weeks. He was not feeling himself and given his age and his heart condition, it added to the worry.”

But will he reduce his workload? “Who is going to tell him? To be blunt, the Duke is not somebody you tell what to do.”

On his return from Balmoral, he carried out eight engagements, said to include opening buildings, hosting receptions, lunches dinners and meetings.

Next month he will fly with the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla to the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Uganda. It’s the first time that Charles will accompanying his parents on such a high profile visit.

Other engagements next month include Philip accompanying the Queen on a private visit to Malta, where the couple lived before Elizabeth became Queen. There is also their Diamond Wedding service at Westminster Abbey and a party arranged by William and Harry.

A senior official commented, “The Duke of Edinburgh has lived with a heart condition for years for which he takes medication. Those who work close to him are informed of the symptoms and if he shows any sign of them he is to be taken straight to see a specialist. He has regular check ups but recently there has been some concern as he was feeling unwell. The concern is due, primarily, to his age.”

Three years ago, when he suffered bruising to his face after slipping in the bath, he reportedly told a journalist in typical fashion, “Do I look bloody ill.”

Brigitte Bardot in her 1950s heyday

In case you are wondering whether this post is just an excuse to put up a beach shot of La Bardot in her prime, think again. This is serious.

The now formidable Grande Dame has been giving advice to Kate Middleton on how to get her man — i.e. Prince William.

Brigitte, of course, has spent many years supporting animal cruelty causes and has a reputation for eccentricity where furry creatures are concerned.

Not surprisingly perhaps she has reacted sharply to the pictures of Kate out shooting at Balmoral with Prince Charles, and later, her best guy. Bardot thinks Kate is trying too hard to ensnare her chap into a more long-term commitment by attempting to fit in with aristocratic life.

Kate was pictured on the moors at Balmoral recently, dressed in camouflage and dangly pearl earrings — an incendiary combination apparently, although I don’t quite get the allure myself.

Brigitte, interviewed on TV by Daphne Barak said, “How sad. She was trying to win him and his family. But this is not a way to get a man. And I do know one or two things about it, you know.”

Well, whatever, Kate seems to have been more successful with William than the former French superstar thinks.