Royals

Duty calls! Prince William to become a fulltime royal in 2017

The future King of England is reportedly set to quit his day job so he can focus solely on his royal duties.
The Cambridges

Will their increased royal duties now Prince Philip has stepped down mean a change in their family plans?

Prince William is said to be leaving his part-time role as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance so he can become full-time royal.

According to a new report from The Sunday Times, the 34-year-old’s contract with the air ambulance charity ends in March however it’s believed he’ll work through the British summer, before departing for good around August.

William’s career change will time in with his family’s move from their country home at Anmer Hall in Norfolk to London’s Kensington Palace in September as their oldest child, Prince George, begins school.

An insider speaking to The Sunday Times explained the father-of-two has had “no pressure from above” to quit his job, but simply understands that the older he gets the more responsibility he has to the Monarchy.

“He knew there would come a point where this would be his life for ever more. He has always been a lot less reluctant than people think to take on more work and this phase of his life,” the source spills.

Once they are settled back in London, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want take on more charity work on issues close to their heart such as mental health, homelessness and conservation.

It’s also expected they’ll up their commitments with their beloved Royal Foundation charity, which they run together with Prince Harry.

Prince William

It’s believed Prince William will finish his part-time role as a rescue pilot around August.

Interestingly, Wills still won’t be taking on as many commitments as many other senior royals including his father, Prince Charles, and his aunt, Princess Anne.

“Some people may question why William still won’t do as much as Princess Anne but he is dead set on not queering his father’s pitch,” the source reveals.

“He sees that Charles will probably be in his seventies before he becomes king and he doesn’t want to be seen as elbowing his father out the way.”

This means the doting, hands-on father will also be around to help continue to raise his two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Last September, Prince William admitted being an ambulance pilot comes with its own challenges but he loved his job.

“I look forward to coming here every day, whether it’s 5:30 a.m. or going to bed at 2 a.m. The shift work is exciting… And the fact that I love working in a team. That’s something my other job doesn’t necessarily do,” William admitted to BBC Future.

“When I put my air ambulance hat on, and I come here and I fly, I’m one of the team.

“There are some very sad, dark moments. We talk about it a lot, and that’s the best way of dealing with some of these situations. But it’s hard … It can be quite difficult,” he confessed.

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