Prince William to Become Air Ambulance Pilot?
Prince William has plenty of options while he takes a transition year to spend with his family and adjust to life outside the military. However, the former helicopter pilot may be returning to the skies in a new, civilian manner, as an air ambulance helicopter pilot.
The 31-year-old heir to the British throne has always enjoyed flying and working as a pilot. He served in the Royal Air Force as a member of the Search and Rescue unit until retiring to focus more on his royal duties. William has decided to take a transition year as he adjusts to civilian life and gets his family settled in their new homes. However, that transition year ends in September, and William may decide to return to the skies instead of buckling down and going full "royal."
"William has privately said he does not want to give up flying and hopes to find a way to incorporate it into what he does in the future," a source told the Daily Mail. "He will not become a full-time working member of the royal family in September, and Charles and the Queen support him in this."
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The Queen and Prince Charles are the senior royals and have allowed William and Harry freedoms that no other royals have had in their lives. Both younger royals served in the military, with Prince Harry serving on the front lines in Afghanistan. Now, though, both princes are focusing more on royal duties and Harry has taken a desk job but still remains loyal to the military he served.
Duchess Kate has expressed her concern at William being a pilot but said she has full faith in her husband's ability.
"I can't pretend that I didn't feel anxious at times when William was on shift in howling gales, knowing he was out flying in extremely challenging conditions," she wrote in the new book, "Living in the Slipstream: Life as an RAF Wife."
"The Duke of Cambridge is currently considering his options and an announcement will be made in due course," the statement from Kensington Palace noted.
