Shirley Tart looks back on Prince William’s time in Shropshire.

As royal success stories go, it is so far, so very good. A favourite prince has completed his time at RAF Shawbury and collects his wings next month in front of his proud father.

His long-term romance is comfortably stable with wedding talk never far away. And shortly after the Shawbury ceremony this handsome young king-in-waiting flies off on his first official overseas visit representing the Queen.

At the age of 27, William of Wales has finally come of age.

The high-flying elder son will welcome his father Prince Charles to the ceremony at RAF Shawbury at the end of an intensive time flying helicopters training to become a qualified RAF search and rescue pilot.

As an early Christmas present, Prince William heard that he had passed his 115 helicopter training course and though his public statement simply said he was “pleased” with his success, that was doubtless an understatement.

Because, although he now faces at least six more months of training before being fully qualified, as for any young man, making progress in your chosen career is always an important rite of passage.

But after passing-out, the chance to celebrate will be short lived as William packs his case to fly off to New Zealand on his first full, formal visit.

He leaves at the request and with the blessing of the 83-year-old Queen who is increasingly handing over more of her own onerous duties to her eldest son and heir and now, to his elder son and heir.

Back in 2005, William was in New Zealand on a private trip but represented his granny by laying a wreath at the Wellington national war memorial.

Though he will remember little of his very first visit – he was just nine months old and went along with his parents, the Prince of Wales and Princess Diana on their official tour of New Zealand and Australia – they like him Down Under.

And he will be especially welcomed this time at a number of important engagements, including the official opening of the new supreme court buildings in Wellington. Then it’s off to Australia where according to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the prince made a special request to visit.ÊÊ

Like other royals, Prince William has been eased into the mainstream of duty, including overseas visits and especially to the Commonwealth. After leaving school, he studied and got his degree at St Andrews University in Scotland – where he met devoted partner Kate Middleton -Êbut also spent part of his gap year in Chile, Belize and a number of African countries.

When William decided on a military career, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, serving of course with his brother Prince Harry who has also been training at Shawbury.

William first earned his wings by completing pilot training at Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, transferred to the Royal Air Force, was promoted to flight lieutenant and continued his training to become a full time pilot with the Search and Rescue.

Now, a new phase of the young man’s royal life and duty begins.

And his big New Zealand date is more than just another round of events attended by a royal.

It marks the approval not only of his grandmother the Queen for him to become an ambassador for The Family and the nation but also of his father who realistically must know that his own reign will be infinitely shorter than that of his mother, the great matriarch.

Indeed, the Queen marks her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and chances are that by then Prince William will not only be a married man but will also be a rock on which his grandmother and his father increasingly lean.

Having seen this young chap carried from hospital by his proud parents, I’ve watched with interest as he grew, learned and took some of life’s toughest knocks – family breakdown and early bereavement.

Along with Harry, Wills learned at a very early age what it was like to lose one of the most important people in anyone’s life – your mum.

It was something which not only made both boys determined to honour Princess Diana’s work for charities but also gave them an incomparable strength and an ability to connect with everyone at times when life becomes unbearable. These lads have been there.

The 2010 New Zealand tour may be seen as just another step along the way.

Yet it is a massive one for a young man destined to be king as he takes his place in a long line of service to nation, throne, Commonwealth and the wider world.