'I can't wait to be a dad - even with the long, sleepless nights!' Prince William says he's looking forward to fatherhood as he opens Help For Heroes centre with Harry today
Prince William insisted today he was looking forward to fatherhood - despite the women he meets warning him about sleepless nights.
The second in line to the throne discussed his impending fatherhood when he was given a teddy bear with a babygro emblazoned with the slogan My Daddy Is A Hero during a visit to the Help for Heroes recovery centre for injured troops at Tedworth House in Tidworth, Wiltshire.
'Are you looking forward to it, sir?' asked Corporal Josh Boggi, a triple amputee. 'Very much so," said William, who is due to become a father in mid-July.
Prince William insisted today he was looking forward to fatherhood as he spoke to well wishers at Tedworth House in Wiltshire where he and Prince Harry officially opened a Help for Heroes Recovery Centre Prince William talks with Sergeant Steve Arnold before he and 2 others who have been injured on a tour of duty embarked on a hand bike to launch the 2013 Hero Ride Prince William talks to Sergeant Steve Arnold (L) as Corporal Claire Edwards (centre) and Corporal Charlie Lemon (R) talk to Prince Harry (R) moments before launching the 'Hero Ride' following the official opening of the centreBut he added: 'All the mothers have been looking at me, "just you wait, just you wait. Long sleepless nights."'
Corporal Boggi, 26, from Binfield, Berkshire, was carrying his two and a half-year-old son Jenson and offered William the chance to have a practice at holding the toddler. 'No, no, you''re very kind,' said William, declining the invitation.
Prince Harry has a bit of fighting fun with this young chap as he greeted the crowd, perhaps preparing for his impending role as uncle The baby boy gives Prince Harry a scowl while his grandmother looks delighted to meet the prince But Harry soon had him smiling when he dressed him up in a Help for Heroes baseball cap that he had been presented with And it was smiles all round as the young boy appeared to help Harry with the hat The Duke of Cambridge speaks to Josh Boggi and his son, Jenson, at Tedworth House
Asked what advice he would give William, Corporal Boggi, who lost both legs and his right arm in an IED explosion while serving with 9th Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers in Afghanistan on New Year's Eve 2010, said: 'I would just say enjoy every moment of it. It's been the best experience of my life having a little boy.'
Prince Harry, also seemed to be getting in some playful practice in preparation for becoming an uncle for the first time - although maybe not of the kind his sister-in-law Kate has in mind.
The royal joker squared up to a baby in the crowd and pretend to box him - before thankfully coo-ing over the youngster instead.
William, Duke of Cambridge, speaks with Staff Sergeant Steve Arnold (L) and Corporal Claire Edwards (R) beside their hand bikes to be used in the Hero RidePrince Harry waves a Help for Heroes flag as he starts the 2013 Hero Ride The two Princes toured the centre, meeting wounded servicemen and their families including some who took part in the Warrior Games, a Paralympic-style event, in Colorado Springs in the United States which Harry attended last week
Harry was also gifted a 'Help for Heroes' jumper along with one for William and the absent Duchess of Cambridge
William and his brother went to Tedworth House to see the state-of-the art recovery centre, one of four opened by Help for Heroes to aid wounded troops to rebuild their lives after serious injury.
The two brothers formally opened the centre, which occupies a 19th century stately home built on land once owned by King Edward the Confessor.
The brothers, aged 30 and 28, were at Tedworth House in Tidworth, Wiltshire, to officially open the centre and meet dozens of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.
One of four new centres funded by the charity, it will provide on-going support and world-class facilities for the hundreds of men and women injured in the line or duty each year.
Harry officially launched the 2013 Hero Ride, a fundraising charity bike ride that will see 100 disabled servicemen and women cycling from all over Britain and Paris into London on June 2 Prince Harry shared a joke with Corporal Claire Edwards one of the three who started off the Hero Ride Prince Harry admires his new Help For Heroes sweatshirt with his name emblazoned on the back, as William speaks of their pride in the charities workThe princes, who have already announced their intention to champion causes involving military personnel as part of their public and charitable duties, also learnt more about the unseen, mental toll that conflict can also take on soldiers, sailors, airmen and veterans.
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Help for Heroes, set up in 2007 to support the growing number of servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-changing injuries, has secured a 99-year lease on Tedworth House for £1 a year.
The charity, which has raised £165 million in five and a half years, is spending £7.5 million a year running its four recovery centres at Tidworth, Colchester, Catterick and Plymouth, offering help and support to 50 residents and 50 day visitors in each centre at any one time.
On his US tour, Harry, 28, won himself a reputation as an all-American sport star, excelling at American football and baseball, but didn't fare so well todayHarry seemed to be preparing for his new role as an uncle as he greeted the crowds at the opening The visit wasn't all laughs as the serious work of Help for Heroes is an issue both Princes care deeply about
The idea is that after receiving treatment initially in hospital and then at Headley Court rehabilitation centre near Leatherhead in Surrey, injured troops go to one of the recovery centres to rebuild their skills and confidence and assess future career options outside the military. A seriously injured soldier typically leaves the forces five years after getting wounded.
The two Princes toured the centre, meeting wounded servicemen and their families including some who took part in the Warrior Games, a Paralympic-style event, in Colorado Springs in the United States which Harry attended last week.
The British team won 20 medals - four golds, seven silvers and nine bronzes - finishing fourth out of six against teams from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Forces.
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