The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may leave their Norfolk home and return to London next year which would mean Prince William giving up as a pilot with the region’s air ambulan
Prince William clocked on to his first shift as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) in summer 2015 with his first emergency call out to Wisbech.
Since then he has been a quiet face around Cambridgeshire and the Fens where he flies the ambulance crew to people unfortunate enough to be involved in serious incidents.
However, in recent weeks, there has been speculation that William and Kate are looking to take on more royal duties.
The move would see him giving up his career as a helicopter pilot with the EAAA - where his two-year piloting contract comes to an end in March - to take up a full-time public role.
William and Kate moved into the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate, three years ago when they became parents - with the aim of giving their children as normal a childhood as possible.
But it has been reported the family will look to move in 2017, making Kensington Palace their full-time residence, after deciding Prince George should be schooled in London.
A source told the Daily Telegraph: “The Duke, in particular, has a lot of thinking to do over the Christmas and New Year period.
“He has his job as an air ambulance pilot, which he enjoys very much, but he also wants to take on more royal duties, as does the Duchess.
“Decisions about schooling and nurseries are all part of that.”
It is understood that Prince George’s name has been put down for the £6,500-a-term Wetherby School in London, the pre-prep school attended by the young Princes William and Harry.
In July 2015 the Duke of Cambridge told how he hoped that juggling fatherhood, royal duties and his pilot job would help to keep him grounded.
Based at Cambridge Airport, he attends incidents where patients need a doctor and critical care paramedic at the scene or where the patient’s location is difficult to reach by a land ambulance.
Speaking at the start of his shift, the Duke said he was “fantastically excited” and looking forward to working with a “very professional bunch of guys and girls”.
He said at the time: “I’m trying to be a good guy, to do what I can and trying to be a decent individual.”
William knew he would balance the job with his royal duties and, while he admitted this brought with it certain pressures, he said he was confident he could make it work.
“At some point there’s going to be a lot more responsibility and pressure but at the moment I’m juggling it and enjoying it,” he added.
William works a nine-and-a-half-hour shift as part of a four days on, four off rota.
Before beginning with the EAAA he took part in a civilian pilot course then trained in flying the specific helicopters used by the service, as well as taking a dedicated 999-response course.
William is paid a salary as a pilot, all of which is donated to charity.
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