William tours top Forces rehab centre

Prince William has praised the "indomitable spirit" of British Forces as he visited the military's top rehabilitation centre.

William, 27, a serving RAF helicopter pilot, met men rebuilding their lives with the help of staff from Headley Court in Surrey after being horrifically injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He paid tribute to the wounded men's sense of humour and "hope for the future" in a speech to mark the opening of the new £11.3 million complex gym, which received £8 million from the forces' charity Help For Heroes.

William and his brother, Prince Harry, 25, have made public and private visits to Headley Court - home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre - which treats the most seriously injured battle servicemen and women.

William said: "We expected to find a place of suffering with, perhaps, a pervading atmosphere of desolation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here reigns courage, humour, compassion and, above all, hope for the future.

"How can this be, you may well ask. Well, part of it - it seems to me - is down to the extraordinary spirit and indomitable nature of the British soldier, sailor and airman. However, it is also about individual courage, the refusal to give up - even in those darkest moments that each and every one of you must have gone through."