Prince Harry to retire from military this year

Britain's Prince Harry will leave the Armed Forces in June, Kensington Palace has announced, bringing to an end a career in which he undertook two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan, qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander and spearheaded the Invictus Games.

Harry will spend four weeks seconded to the Australian Defence Force in April and May before stepping down after 10 years of military service.

During his time in Australia, Harry will spend time at army barracks in Darwin, Perth and Sydney, where he will "take part in a range of unit-based activities, training exercises and domestic deployments", the palace said.

The aim is to gain an appreciation of the army's domestic operating environment and capabilities, an official statement from Kensington Palace said.

Harry will spend the summer carrying out a programme of voluntary work alongside field-based conservation experts in Africa, the palace said.

The prince will then spend the autumn working in a voluntary capacity with the Ministry of Defence's Recovery Capability Programme, while considering his long term future.