Prince William – known as ‘Flight Lieutenant William Wales’ in the RAF – is currently based at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, training to become a fully operational RAF Search and Rescue pilot. His daily life there is absolutely typical of that of any other officer on his flying course.
His normal routine might consist of an early breakfast in the Officers’ Mess followed by a briefing from his instructors on the day’s training activities and planned flying sorties – as well as the vital weather check.
The syllabus of Prince William’s training course varies greatly from week to week. Much of the training is classroom-based but, on an average day, The Prince would also fly a couple of helicopter sorties. These are always followed by a de-brief with his instructors and fellow students to assess what went well and what needs further work.
The rest of the day might be spent preparing for the following day’s sorties in the Station’s Ops Room, planning routes, studying maps and rehearsing drills. The Prince also makes time each day to talk to his Household Office at St James’s Palace. Most evenings involve study, but with plenty of opportunities for The Prince to get to know his fellow students in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Despite the intensity of the training course, Prince William continues to undertake official Royal engagements. Some of these are private; but most are public occasions.
The Prince is currently Patron or President of twelve charities and organisations, and he holds a small number of honorary appointments. In 2008, Prince William undertook approximately 30 public engagements.
Prince William and Prince Harry share a number of interests, including support for disadvantaged young people. In Prince William’s case, this is illustrated by his keen patronage of the homelessness charity, Centrepoint, and in his focus on other organisations involved in helping the most disadvantaged young people in our society such as the Royal Marsden Hospital.
The Princes also come together regularly to back Armed Forces charities and organisations, particularly those involved in caring for the wounded returning from current operations overseas. They both also have a keen and growing interest in development issues arising from today’s environmental challenges, particularly in Africa.
An example of this is The Princes’ patronage of The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which supports schools in Uganda, and Prince William’s patronage of Tusk, a leading charity promoting conservation alongside sustainable community development in Africa.
The Princes invite all their charities and associations to a gathering two or three times a year, where they hope to assist in promoting exchanges of ideas and joint initiatives to the benefit of all the members of what has become known as ‘The Princes’ Charities Forum’.
Prince William takes a very active role in putting together his engagements diary, which is compiled on a quarterly basis. Every care is taken to ensure that his official and charitable commitments do not impact detrimentally on his military service, particularly now that he is embarked on such a busy 20-month training course.
Whenever possible, however, if one of Prince William’s charities has a particular cause, project or anniversary to promote or celebrate, he will endeavour to support it. These engagements take Prince William all over the country.
In common with other Members of The Royal Family, Prince William finds the best way of using his limited spare time is to carry out more than one engagement in a particular area on a particular day.
For example, on a recent series of engagements in Wales, The Prince began the day in Mid-Glamorgan meeting children, families and staff at Valleys Kids’ Dinas Community Project. The Prince, who is Patron of the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales, then travelled to the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue base where he met a rescue team and took part in a practice rescue operation.
The following day, Prince William, in his capacity as President of the Football Association, visited The FA Skills Programme in Blackburn, Lancashire, which helps develop the skills and healthiness of five to 11 year olds. At that engagement, The Prince met children and took part in an informal kick-around. On the following day, The Prince, who is Patron of the English Schools’ Swimming Association, attended the Under 18s Water Polo Championships in Walsall.
In his time-off from the RAF course or official engagements, The Prince generally spends time socialising with his friends, going to the cinema or local pub, playing football or going out running.
