Prince William to combine rescuehelicopter role with his royal duties

Prince William will combine his roles as a Search and Rescue (SAR) Force helicopter pilot and member of the monarchy as much as possible.

In the coming weeks Flight Lieutenant Wales will be answering callouts with other members of his crew in his new job with one of the country’s “vital” emergency services.

But the prince also has a wide range of charities he supports and promotes, from his patronage of the homeless organisation Centrepoint to being president of the Football Association.

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William graduated from his flying course yesterday and officially joined 22 Squadron, C Flight at RAF Valley on Anglesey where he will co-pilot Sea King Mk3 helicopters.

Group Captain Jonathan Dixon, Commander of the RAF SAR Force, presented the prince with his graduation certificate at RAF Valley and said afterwards: “He will merge his royal duties as much as possible with this. He will do everything that is expected of a search and rescue pilot and will undertake as many shifts and reach the same standards.”

The senior officer added that the 28-year-old prince had adapted well to RAF life.

He said: “He has fitted in very easily, he has been very low key and when he is with us he is Flight Lieutenant William Wales. He drops his Royal Highness at the gates to the station and becomes a junior officer.

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Gp Capt Dixon added: “The ability to earn his crew’s trust is natural to him. It has been a good course they have all gelled together, they socialise as well as work together.”

William said: “The course has been challenging, but I have enjoyed it immensely.

“I absolutely love flying so it will be an honour to serve operationally with the Search and Rescue Force, helping to provide such a vital emergency service.”

It will be a number of weeks before the Prince embarks on his first emergency call-out as he will have to learn the terrain.

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