Prince William to train as a Search and Rescue pilot from January 2009

[QUEENECE29]

exclusive news
Is that Big Ears? No, it's Four Eyes
Speccy Prince William uses loophole to beat RAF pilot ban | The Sun |News|Royals

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by QUEENECE29

exclusive news
Is that Big Ears? No, it's Four Eyes
Speccy Prince William uses loophole to beat RAF pilot ban | The Sun |News|Royals

In order to create a "loophole" there must be a reason behind this. In this case it was probably the fact that already serving officers, especially those who passed Sandhurst sucessfully, are generally wanted by the RAF. The reports about their professional performances give the choosing officers a much better insight intotheirnew recruit thanthe testresults of other applicants from outsidethe army. Thus I believe the question of good eyesight which is of course an important point on choosing newcomers is not as important when it comes to choosing an already serving officer. There selection can be based on other aspects as long as the applicant has a good enough vision on wearing spectacles as proven by a medical examination.

Of course one can discuss that in case of an emergency spectacles might become a problem but the pilot normally is not involved in fights man to man in war and in other situations there surely is a way to modify the spectacle-design to omit practical problems.

Yes, of course William surely has been privileged insofar as the RAF obviously wants him as one of theirs but don't have most people something that helps them on getting chosen? Something that makes them out to be the better choice to another? Applicants from more privileged backgrounds have gotten a better education normally and are thus able to offer more than others. That's how it is and IMHO there is nothing bad in it, it's just sad that equal opportunity is more of a dream than a possible reality.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

In this case it was probably the fact that already serving officers, especially those who passed Sandhurst sucessfully, are generally wanted by the RAF.

Sorry Jo, I think this was a simple case of favouritism for a senior member of the RF. There are very few Army or Naval Officers who remuster to the RAF, both of whom consider (on the whole) the Airforce to be too 'young' to be their equal.

Yes, of course William surely has been privileged insofar as the RAF obviously wants him as one of theirs but don't have most people something that helps them on getting chosen?

Again I disagree, The MOD has decided to allow the transfer, whether anyone but the very Top Brass wanted him is questionable.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

I believe that those unfashionable glasses are what we used to call "aviator frames.

Here they are 'normaly' used by non flyers, i.e. workshops. I'm surprised the Mail didn't go in for an attack, coming out with an incorrect - "Applicants must, however, have perfect 20/20 vision when wearing glasses", whereas the Sun confirms he used a loophole

"The RAF admitted Wills used the loophole to join up, but insisted no rules had been broken"

[Royal Fan]

Well glad he made it hope he does well

[kpusa1981]

Is William FLT/LT or still a Flying Officer? If he is FLT/LT does effect his Army rank at all or he still Lt in the Army and Capt.?

[BeatrixFan]

Another waste of time. This boy seems to want to do anything that avoids actually training to be Prince of Wales. He's done his time in each service which fills the need to be connected to the Army, Navy and Air Force but now it's time to actually get out amongst the people and do day-to-day Royal duties like his father and step-mother do.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Another waste of time. This boy seems to want to do anything that avoids actually training to be Prince of Wales. He's done his time in each service which fills the need to be connected to the Army, Navy and Air Force but now it's time to actually get out amongst the people and do day-to-day Royal duties like his father and step-mother do.

What training is there to be Prince of Wales?

From my reading there is none as each Prince of Wales makes of the position whatever they want.

William needs to do some growing up, and like his father, wants to actually spend some time serving in the military. His father did that for about 5 years and took command of a ship etc. He also did have short experiences with the other services. This SAR is William's equivalent of Charles' navy service. The age difference is due to the two gap years William has had between leaving school and finishing uni and I think his uni course was a year longer than his father's. This means that he will be about 3 years older than Charles when starting on full time royal duties but as he isn't the heir to the throne that is fine in my book. When he does become the heir to the throne he will then have to take over his father's duties so his father can take over the Queen's.

The longer William stays away from full time royal duties the more chance that he will grow up and also the more chance that the people will come to appreciate Camilla. Once William starts full time royal duties than Charles and Camilla will be overshone by Diana's boy (many people seem to forget that he is also Charles' boy and associate him with Diana only).

Let him do something worthwhile and have a sense of pride about what he has achieved.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

Once William starts full time royal duties than Charles and Camilla will be overshone by Diana's boy (many people seem to forget that he is also Charles' boy and associate him with Diana only).

I don't know that it would actually be a problem because William has only "dipped his big toe" in the Royal Duty pond. Put him out there working full time for the 'Firm' and at this stage of the game, I believe I would flounder . . . . badly!

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

Let him do something worthwhile and have a sense of pride about what he has achieved.

William needs to get a sense of who he is and I don't think he has done that yet. He is not comfortable in his own skin and it shows in the odd unplanned 'meet-and-greet' encounters. He is too serious and needs to 'lighten up" a bit.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by MARG

I don't know that it would actually be a problem because William has only "dipped his big toe" in the Royal Duty pond. Put him out there working full time for the 'Firm' and at this stage of the game, I believe I would flounder . . . . badly!

But he has been brought up to do it as shown with the number of times that he has been exposed to meet and greet with the family throughout his life e.g. Christmas church services. He has been doing it, part-time all his life, so it won't be as if he is thrown in with no experience or idea.

Originally Posted by MARG

William needs to get a sense of who he is and I don't think he has done that yet. He is not comfortable in his own skin and it shows in the odd unplanned 'meet-and-greet' encounters. He is too serious and needs to 'lighten up" a bit.

Which is why I made the comment that he needs to get some pride in his achievements before taking on full time royal duties.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

But he has been brought up to do it as shown with the number of times that he has been exposed to meet and greet with the family throughout his life e.g. Christmas church services. He has been doing it, part-time all his life, so it won't be as if he is thrown in with no experience or idea.

Beatrice and Eugenie do the meet-and-greets with more ease than William. They are quite the "well oiled machine" backing up the Queen, taking care of the flowers and even bringing children forward to give their flowers in person.

There is a big difference between a meet-and-greet on the way to or from church and doing 2 or 3 different 'jobs' in one day with no one else to share the load.

He would be expected to have "done his homework" on every orgainisation and society that he visits. Smiling, nodding and shaking hands is not going to cut it. If he were on the civil list he would be "critiqued" on every every aspect of every occassion.

I think it is unfair that people compare him to his father at the same age. It is an unequal comparison as Prince Charles has been 'The Heir' since before he was able to understand what an heir was. William is only second in line and you can't "practise" being the heir. You either are or you are not.

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

William needs to do some growing up, and like his father, wants to actually spend some time serving in the military. His father did that for about 5 years and took command of a ship etc. He also did have short experiences with the other services. This SAR is William's equivalent of Charles' navy service.

That being the case, I am with you on this one. He needs the time and space to be and grow because this isn't the 1970's and their is an awful lot going on in the world.

[muriel]

I think a number of very interesting points have been made in the last few posts:

1) Should Will have taken up the SAR role?

I do believe it was important for Wills to do this SAR (or other) role in the armed forces. If he had left at the end of 2008, he would have been criticised for not spending enough time in any of the forces, and demonstrating his commitment to the men he might one day command. Some murmurs to this effect had already started in the summer of 2008, prior to the announcement of his proposed attachment

2) Is he lacking direction..... and how does he shape up in comparison with his father at his age?

Charles is recognised as a sensitive and thinking man. This is an image that has been nurtured and reinforced over time, and with some of the causes he has supported over time - it did not just happen at age 18. Further, Charles' own thinking has developed with time and I have no doubt so will Wills' to provide the focus and direction that he will need in his public life till he is King. I do think it is important for Wills to have some cleardoirection when he enters full time royal duties, otherwis ehe will be criticised.

3) What will his entering royal duties mean for C&C?

I don't think Will will actually take the spotlight away from C&C. That said, I think a few more years will help further establish brand Camilla in the minds of the people

[ghost_night554]

Culdrose plays host to Prince's survival training

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/home...l/article.html

[Mermaid1962]

Quite appropriate for the future Duke of Cornwall.

Originally Posted by ghost_night554

Culdrose plays host to Prince's survival training

prince,william,culdrose

[Maricar]

Prince William's new role as Anglesey tourist attraction

Just FYI, the link above goes to my blog. I didn't see much of this news on any other outlets, except for the one I cite. I thought it might be a fun piece of news to share here.

[Ella Kay]

Telegraph | Prince William to serve in the Falklands

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Ella Kay

Telegraph | Prince William to serve in the Falklands

Whilst I don't totally discount the story, having checked the RAF news site, there does not appear to be any such news? Any help from someone who has the announcement, would be appreciated.

RAF - News by Date
Ministry of Defence | Defence News

Although the conditions in the Falklands can be tough when executing a rescue or training exercises, the scenery is fantastic.

Two of ours have had postings to The Falklands (stopover at the Ascension Islands normally) and really enjoyed the hospitality of the locals. They came back with photos of Dolphins they had taken from the helicopters, Elephant Seals and 100's of birds, (feathered variety)

[Mermaid1962]

Fantastic scenery? Good hospitality? Their fall and winter would be our spring and summer. Hmmmm. Sounds like a nice place for a couple of Royal newlyweds.

[Ella Kay]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

Fantastic scenery? Good hospitality? Their fall and winter would be our spring and summer. Hmmmm. Sounds like a nice place for a couple of Royal newlyweds.

Could a spouse go along on a placement like this one? I don't know enough about the British military to know if wives or husbands are allowed to relocate to a base like this.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Ella Kay

Could a spouse go along on a placement like this one? I don't know enough about the British military to know if wives or husbands are allowed to relocate to a base like this.

Things might be different now, (a few years down the line) but spouses were only allowed to visit. Some take weekend leave and meet up on the Ascension Islands, but unless they have applied for and received an entry permit, they would be stuck on the MOD base. Mine were lucky, as one of the uncles was based on the Ascension Island, so they were able to stay there.