text: is it compulsory for british princes to get military training?   no, it's not compulsory for british princes to get military training. at one point it was traditional for the second son to join the services and doing so was seen as a suitable 'occupation' for them and some have made a career of it. prince harry has wanted to be a soldier since he was a child so his joining the services right out of school is not surprising.   prince william went to university before deciding on military training. it's unlikely that he will see combat but the training that he receives will serve him well when he becomes king. as sovereign, he will automatically become head of the armed services.