Prince Harry is learning to drive an armoured reconnaissance vehicle

The prince, 21, took control of the eight-ton Scimitar at Bovington Camp in Dorset, having just completed the first part of his Troop Leaders' course.

He will also learn to maintain the armoured reconnaissance vehicles, which have a driver, gunner and a commander.

Harry completes his "recce soldier" training as a member of the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals in October.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Prince Harry has begun the second phase of his Troop Leaders' course, for the first time driving an armoured reconnaissance vehicle."

THE SCIMITAR A light, agile reconnaissance vehicle Crew: 3 Combat weight: 8,000kg Length 4.9m, height 2.1m, width 2.24m Maximum speed: 80kmph

In July 1993 the eight-year-old prince accompanied his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, to a military barracks in Bergen-Hohne, Germany.

He donned fatigues, complete with the name HRH The Prince, to clamber aboard a Scimitar light tank, almost identical to the one he is learning to drive.

During this course he will also learn about communications and the information systems in the vehicles, before moving to Lulworth for six weeks of gunnery training on live firing ranges.

The final part of the course is five weeks at Warminster, when Prince Harry will use all of his knowledge in armoured tactics training and take part in exercises commanding troops.