Britain's defense ministry says Prince Harry has qualified as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, graduating as the best co-pilot gunner in his class after 18 months of training.

The ministry said on Thursday the prize recognises the student whose performance is the best among their peer group.

Known in the military as Capt. Wales, the third-in-line to the British throne was awarded his prize on Wednesday.

The prince, who trained in California, in southern Arizona and in Britain, will now fly Apaches on exercises in the UK.

In December, a British newspaper said Harry had acknowledged he will be deployed to Afghanistan for a second time.

He briefly served there from 2007. The defense ministry has declined to confirm details of the prince's future deployments.