12 September 2013 Last updated at 07:33 ET

Prince William to swap armed forces for royal and charity duties

Prince William is to leave the military after more than seven years of service, Kensington Palace has announced.

The Duke of Cambridge completed his final shift as an RAF search and rescue pilot on Tuesday.

He will now focus on royal duties and charity work together with the Duchess of Cambridge, a palace spokesman said.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George are expected to move from their Anglesey home to Kensington Palace within the next few weeks.

The BBC's royal correspondent, Peter Hunt, tweeted that royal officials said the next 12 months would be "transitional" for Prince William. He will not become a "full time royal" at this stage, they said.

'No greater feeling'

The duke, with the Duchess of Cambridge, will continue to support the work of the Queen and the Royal Family through a programme of official engagements - both at home and overseas, the palace added.

He will work closely over the next year with the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The palace spokesman said: "He will expand his work in the field of conservation, particularly in respect of endangered species."

"The duke will continue to work with his charities on issues relating to children and young people, veterans and serving members of the armed forces."

Prince William is currently considering a number of options for public service, the palace added, with a further announcement to follow in due course.

Tuesday's final RAF shift brought to an end a three-year posting on Anglesey for the prince.

In an interview for the BBC Wales documentary Helicopter Rescue, he said: "There's no greater feeling than when you've actually done some good and saved someone's life.

"I don't think there's any greater calling in life...to be able to see a son or daughter's face when you bring their mother or father back from the edge of death - it's quite powerful."

'Immensely special'

The head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, praised the duke's work in the air force.

Sir Andrew said Flight Lieutenant Wales had been an "integral" part of the RAF's search and rescue force, "often in the most demanding of conditions, [he] has contributed directly to saving lives in the mountains of North Wales and from the ravages of the Irish Sea.

He added: "He has earned the respect of all who have worked with him as a highly professional and competent pilot."

In a speech at Anglesey Show in August, the duke thanked the island's people for being so welcoming to him and his wife.

"I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey," said the duke.

"I know that both of us will miss it terribly when my search and rescue tour of duty comes to an end next month and we have to move elsewhere.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making my wife and me so welcome when we arrived here, as you do thousands of visitors each year."

He said the island had been their first home together and would always be an "immensely special place for us both".