"Following on from my time in the military, I have had experiences in this job I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that will add a valuable perspective to my royal work for decades to come," William said in a statement on Friday.

His office said the prince would leave his job this summer and move with his wife Kate and his children George, 3, and Charlotte, 1, to Kensington Palace in London. The family currently lives in Anmer Hall on Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

"As they have in recent years, their royal highnesses are keen to continue to increase their official work on behalf of the queen and for the charities and causes they support, which will require greater time spent in London," the prince's office said.

Prince George was expected to begin school in London in September and his sister Charlotte would go to nursery and school in London as well, the statement elaborated.

William served in the United Kingdom's armed forces from 2006 until 2013, during which he served as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. He then switched to working as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglia Air Ambulance recently.

Prince William is second-in-line for the throne after his father, Prince Charles, and is taking over some of the royal duties traditionally attended to by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. The queen turned 90 last year and has cut the number of social engagements. She also said she would step down as patron of a number of organizations.

At Christmas there was much media attention on the fact that ill-health, reported by Buckingham Palace as a "heavy cold" prevented Queen Elizabeth from attending church services and mass on Christmas Day for the first time in decades. She is the world's longest-reigning living monarch.

mg/jm (Reuters)