There is a whole lot going on in the royal family right now. Harry and Meghan are preparing for the arrival of their first child while settling into their new home. They're dodging all sorts of nasty rumors, which is the last thing the couple needs right now.
Similarly, Kate Middleton has been busy quietly refuting some rumors about her own behavior. While all of this was going on, Prince William seems to have stealthily completed what sounds like an awesome experience.
William just completed a three-week training with British security and intelligence agencies. Not only does the spy training itself sound very interesting, but considering who Prince William is, it's impressive. The royals are dogged by paparazzi and fanfare wherever they go.
For William to be able to meet with so many big names without word getting out proves that William has learned a thing or two about espionage from his experience.
Prince William just did something truly amazing. In a recent Instagram post, the royal family revealed that William spent the last three weeks under the instruction of the United Kingdom's security and intelligence agencies.
The Duke of Cambridge visited M15, M16, and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). He spent one week with each of the agencies.
Prince William included his own thoughts about the experience in the lengthy Instagram caption.
"Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience," he said of the experience.
William also made a point of mentioning his admiration for the regular men and women who pursue such a fascinating and important line of work.
"They work in secret, often not even able to tell their family and friends about the work they do or the stresses they face," explained William. "They are driven by an unrivaled patriotism and dedication to upholding the values of this country. We all owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do."
William spent his first week with M16, the Secret Intelligence Service. William learned about how the agency gathers intelligence overseas that it uses to identify threats to the UK.
If the agency sounds familiar to you, it's because that's where James Bond works throughout the 007 movies. Can you imagine William sipping martinis and saving the world? We totally can.
The second week was spent at M15, which deals with domestic security issues. That agency handles all matters of national security, including thwarting terror plots.
The last week of William's training was spent with Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham. There, he learned about the different technologies used to help identify threats to national security.
William had good reason for being interested in learning about security in his country. While the royal family has additional security available to them, the country's security has been a topic of conversation in recent years.
The number of incidents, deaths, and injuries related to terrorism or mass violence has risen in the past five years throughout the UK. The international terrorist threat level in the country has been severe or higher for just as long.
The head of Counter-Terrorism Operations was pleased with William's time among them. In a more extensive release on the three-week program, he was quoted as saying, "Having The Duke of Cambridge spend time with our teams was an incredible opportunity. William worked exceptionally hard to embed himself in the team and comfortably held his own amongst some highly skilled analysts and operators."
It's wonderful to see William really tackling the important issues in his country with such an immersive experience. As the future king, establishing a good relationship with government agencies and working together will help the people see that the monarchy isn't above the problems of the commoners.
It's also impressive that William was able to undergo this level of immersion at all. The royal family is constantly being watched and photographed by fans and paparazzi alike.
The fact that he got through three weeks among these agencies unseen is a feat unto itself. Maybe he's more cut out for this spy thing than anyone thought.
