PRINCE WILLIAM has been shortlisted for the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst, pitting him against six rival “bladerunners” competing to be named best officer cadet.

He has just returned from Cyprus, following the final command phase of his course, which will determine whether he is chosen to carry the sword before the Queen at his passing-out parade.

While his army career has started with great promise, his brother, Prince Harry, is said to be frustrated that army chiefs are blocking his attempts to serve on the front line.

Harry’s unit, the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry, is going to Iraq, but defence sources said that although he will do the pre-deployment training, he is unlikely to be allowed to join his colleagues.

William has made the shortlist of seven, which includes two women, despite an embarrassing slip-up when he briefly lost a machinegun, which could have scuppered his chances.

“A cadet’s performance is monitored right up until the last week of the course and one serious mistake like that could cost them the top award,” one senior source said.

But the source played down the machinegun incident, saying the prince was intellectually and militarily so exceptional that he remained a strong contender for the Sword of Honour.

“He has really surprised his instructors with his ability to think on his feet,” the source said. “He is very sharp, very knowledgable. Some of the questions he asks have really impressed people.

“The machinegun thing was way overblown. He signed for it, so technically he should have handed it in. But someone else picked it up and handed it in. I’m sure he had a moment of panic but it really was no big deal.”

While the cadet deemed to have the most potential as an officer receives the Sword of Honour, the Queen’s Medal is awarded to the cadet who achieves the best military, practical and academic results.

Prince William, who will also join the Blues and Royals, is said to be in the running for one or other of the two awards. He achieved exceptional results in the Sandhurst entry tests, while Harry’s results were average.

William gained an upper second class honours degree in geography at the University of St Andrews on the back of three A-levels at Eton.

He went on to achieve a seven, out of a maximum of 10, in the IQ test taken by all potential cadets.

Prince Harry by contrast scored only four in the IQ test and didn’t go to university.

His frustrations have continued with the refusal of his commanders to allow him to fight on the front line. Friends in the squadron say he is “fuming” even though he understands the concerns about his safety. William is likely to face similar restrictions.

Prince William’s intake of 248 cadets, Commissioning Course 054, will pass out on Sovereign’s Parade in two weeks’ time, with the Queen due to take the salute and present the Sword of Honour. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are also due to attend.

Military sources say that William has benefited from being a graduate. “The graduates always tend to do better. They are generally more mature and have seen more of life and that helps a lot,” said a source.

The contest between William and his six rivals will be decided by the “face-off” on the Cyprus exercise in which contenders are given “key command appointments”.

Lt Col Tim Spicer is a past winner of the Sword and Field Marshal Lord Haig won a precursor of it in 1884.

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