Prince William goes from soccer to Navy

LONDON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Prince William, third in line to the British throne, has been taking a more active public role recently, making personal appearances across the country.

This week, the prince visited a Football Association project in Newcastle Thursday, playing soccer with children in the program.

William went on to Scotland where he joined Royal Marines during an exercise for Offshore Raiding Craft in the River Clyde near Glasgow, The Telegraph reported. The prince, wearing a dark-blue immersion suit and carrying an SA80 rifle, boarded the tugboat Oronsay while other marines climbed down ropes from helicopters.

The ORCs are stationed in the Clyde to protect naval vessels at Faslane Base.

William, a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Household Cavalry, is to get training with the Navy and Royal Air Force when he finishes his course at Sandhurst, the military academy. If he becomes king, he will be commander-in-chief of the British military, although the position is ceremonial.