Prince William is taking up a part-time job as an ambulance pilot for £40,000 a year, according to UK reports.
The Britain’s Mirror has revealed that the Duke of Cambridge, 32, has landed the role in East Anglia after deciding not to carry out royal duties full-time.
It’s speculated that the Prince has been wanting to return to the skies since he left his job as an RAF search and rescue pilot in 2013 after a three-year posting. While the palace hasn’t confirmed the rumours, royal minders have revealed “the Duke is considering a number of options for public service”.
If William does take up the position in East Anglia he is more likely to reside in the Queen’s Sandringham Estate with the Duchess of Cambridge and their son, George than at the couple’s London home.
But it turns out William didn’t need to get a day job to get back in the pilot seat after receiving a lavish birthday gift of a helicopter from his grandmother, the Queen, at the weekend.
Queen Elizabeth II, 88, has reportedly leased a $13.6 million 2008 Agusta A109S Grand helicopter for her grandson, who is second in line to the British throne, and Kate, 32.
The extravagant gift is reportedly a thrifty purchase with the leasing estimated to save the jet-setting Cambridges and other members of the royal family money by using the same aircraft for journeys around the country rather than leasing private means of travel.
Both Princes William and Harry followed in their father’s footsteps with a career in the air force. Here is a look back at William’s time in the military.
Reports are circulating that Prince William is being lured back into the skies with a part-time pilot job at the East Anglian Air Ambulance service in Norfolk.
A flashback to Prince Harry and Prince William sitting together on the steps of Highgrove House wearing army uniforms in July, 1986.
A young Prince William walking through the grounds of Kensington Palace after watching the parachute regiment Red Devils Team parachute into the garden.
Prince William wearing the uniform of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army in the garden of Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, 18th July 1986.
There was speculation that William may have taken on an agricultural role on his father’s property in Cornwall in preference to an army career.
Prince William takes part in the Army’s Regular Commissions Board selection process enabling him to join the army as an officer cadet at Sandhurst Military Academy October, 2005.
Prince William is pictured during a training session in 2005 when he began his two-month attachment with the Royal Navy at Britannia Royal Naval college, in Dartmouth, England.
Prince William takes part in an army training exercise in Cyprus, Greece in 2006.
William made many good friends while training in the military.
Prince William marches with fellow soldiers in the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006.
Prince William collects a flying helmet after along with his parachute beside his instructor Squadron Leader, Roger Bousfield while they prepare to go flying while training at airbase RAF Cranwell, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire in January, 2008.
Prince William walks on the tarmac with his squadron in Qatar during the final phase of his training with the Royal Air Force in 2008.
Prince William walks across the tarmac on his way to fly a Grob 115E light aircraft, known as the Tutor, in 2008.
Prince William and Prince Harry pose in front of a Griffin helicopter during a photocall at RAF Shawbury on June 18, 2009 in Shawbury, England.
Prince William and Prince Harry with their grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on the steps of the Old College after the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy.
Duke of Cambridge talks with soldiers as he attends the Irish Guards Afghanistan Operational Medals Parade at Victoria Barracks on June 25, 2011 in Windsor, England.
William is pictured at the controls of a Sea King helicopter during a training exercise at Holyhead Mountain, having flown from RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales in 2011.
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge head back to the RAF Rescue base after Prince William showed his father round his RAF Sea King Rescue helicopter at RAF Valley on July 9, 2012.