General Discussion

They made a huge deal about him training up to take a command position in Iraq. Images and videos of him doing combat training flooded the news for weeks. But, ultimately, he didn't actually serve in combat.

Hey Google, "Did Prince William serve in Iraq?"

No, Prince William did not serve in Iraq. Although he trained with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and was willing to serve on the front lines, his position as second-in-line to the throne at the time led to concerns that he would be a targeted risk to himself and his unit, ultimately canceling planned deployments to active combat zones.

Military Service Details: Instead of combat, William served as a helicopter pilot for the Royal Air Force's Search and Rescue Force, where he completed a tour of duty in Wales.
Comparison to Harry: While Prince William did not deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan, his younger brother, Prince Harry, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Reasons for Decision: Due to his status as the "heir to the heir," officials deemed the risk of his deployment too great, leading to his roles being focused on search-and-rescue rather than front-line combat, notes (consensus in regarding risks).