Wills: let me fly on... Prince tells Queen he wants to stay in the RAF...

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 26th September 2011 | Rebecca English

[naturalman1975]

Prince William has told the Queen that he wants to remain in the RAF for as long as possible before he becomes a full-time royal.

The 29-year-old future king is desperate to delay plans to enter the ‘family firm’, and instead wants to focus on his job as a search and rescue pilot.

His decision to stay in the RAF after 2013, when he is due to leave, has the full support of both his grandmother and his father, Prince Charles.

Flight Lieutenant Wales, as he is known in the force, works as a Sea King co-pilot based at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

He also carries out around 40 public engagements each year – when work commitments allow – in connection with the charities he supports. In comparison, his 85-year-old grandmother still undertakes more than 300 engagements a year while his father, Prince Charles, conducts more than 500.

William had been due to leave the force in around 20 months’ time, after a three-year tour of duty.

But despite the popularity of the prince and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, he has made it clear his day job as a pilot comes ahead of any public engagements.

William has discussed his decision with the Queen and Prince Charles, both of whom have given their unequivocal support. ‘The Queen, in particular, is very sympathetic to the Duke of Cambridge’s feelings on the subject,’ a source close to the prince told the Mail.

[naturalman1975]

William is a fine young man. He understands that he has a duty to his country and that one day he will almost certainly be King and he is dedicated to the idea of doing his best in that role, but he wants and deserves as much of a chance of as close to a normal life as he can possibly have for as long as possible. The military is one of the few places where he really can have that in Britain. It has its own heirarchy where an accident of birth matters far, far less than being able to do your job properly. Practical considerations mean he can probably not ever be deployed in a combat role - his future role in the constitutional government of the United Kingdom can't be ignored by command and longstanding tradition is that of the 'heir' and the 'spare', only one of them can be allowed to risk their lives in combat and by not going to university, Harry managed to get there first despite being younger but there is nothing easy, nor even particularly safe about serving in search and rescue. He can do this job and serve his country - and at the moment, he desperately wants to have the chance to do that. And his father, and his grandmother and his grandfather - the most important people in his lives in terms of opinion that matter - served their time in uniform and support his right to do so as long as he can.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Prince William has told the Queen that he wants to remain in the RAF for as long

Beats living in his grandmother's house ;)

Actually, I like Will and Harry. I see a little of Prince Hal spark in either of them.

[Publius]

George V was a career naval officer before taking the crown. It’s a good precedent, especially considering what George had to deal with in the early years of his reign.

[mamelukesabre]

or...

flying is just way more fun that being a prince of a dying empire.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

I think that’s the coolest thing I’ve heard about the “royals”. Ever. And it makes me proud to reside in Prince William County.

TC

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Prince Phillip, his grandfather, had a brief but quite distinguished Naval Career. The boys take after him. Good on them.

[Ronin]

The RAF flies Sea Kings? Anyhow, I thought he flew Chinooks.

Oh well. I think it’s a great idea for him to stay in uniform and continue developing his leadership skills for as long as he can.

[naturalman1975]

If he wanted to, he could spend his days drinking away his (substantial) personal fortune or snorting it up his nose, driving around Europe doing exactly what he wants, buy and fly his own personal helicopters and make it quite clear he’d abdicate when he becomes King - if he wanted to. He can do just about anything he wants to. He inherited a fair chunk of his mother’s money so he is rich in his own right. He chooses to serve his country despite having far more choice than most people to do whatever he likes.

[submarinerswife]

After living with the embarrassing realization that you failed miserably as a parent, Will and Harry must make the Queen, finally, proud.

I like these two princes, they have been fun to follow.

[colorado tanker]

I am also very impressed with Will and Kate. And who wouldn't want to live a normal life here for as long as possible:

[manc]

him and his brother like most Royals have served but all the best to the guy for doing this.

[naturalman1975]

Sea King HAR3 and HAR3A - specifically used by the RAF Search and Rescue Force. The Duke of Cambridge (or Flight Lieutenant Wales) is a pilot of C Flight, No. 22 Squadron, SAR Force.

[Montanabound]

I really like the young princes. Thank God they are (or seem to be) nothing like their father.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Once you pin those wings on your chest you never remove them for the rest of your life...I am proud to let Rick Perry and thousand of us before him join us in sharing that great accomplishment and honor.....Only those FReepers who have been there and done that can make an claims of who is smart or not smart IMHO..

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I seem to recall Prince Hal did a little something or other. And do not forget their great-great uncle, Louis, of Mountbatten .

[mamelukesabre]

I don’t care how rich i was, i would HATE being prince of a depressing dying empire...especially when the title comes with zero power to turn things around. If I was permitted to fly for the RAF, I would rather do that ALL DAY LONG.

btw, you can bet your ass his relatives think they are doing more to “serve their country” than he is and probably let him know it.

[sodpoodle]

Oh the irony.

** he could be ..driving around Europe doing exactly what he wants, buy and fly his own personal helicopters ..***

One reason to dispense with the monarchy in 1776. Sorta kinda seems like we have a return to royalty - ‘right here in River City.’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qam1fbQmA_s

[mamelukesabre]

i have no idea why you are responding to me

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

We all contribute something. Some of us serve as bad examples.

[naturalman1975]

As a friend of the Prince of Wales, I'll tell you they are a lot like their father. They are just not much like the caricature of their father that the press chooses to present to the public. The Prince of Wales is a conservative - and so the press likes to present him as a fool. Not that he's perfect by any means - but he's a good and decent man with mostly conservative values (except when it comes to the environment - the one thing about him the left wing press likes, so the one thing they publicise).

Thirty five year ago, he was the dashing young military chopper pilot himself. He flew commandos on and off ships.