Prince starts news job with air ambulance team

It hardly sounds like a career fit for a prince, yet at 7am tomorrow the Duke of Cambridge reports for duty at Cambridge International Airport, to start his new job as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).

The former RAF search-and-rescue pilot will now carry out risky missions ferrying to hospital critically ill members of the public that other emergency services cannot reach.

One of William’s new colleagues, Jeremy Mauger, a doctor on the EC145 helicopter the Duke will be co-piloting, said it is a very rewarding job.

‘Our crew, particularly the pilots, are fantastic and we are looking forward to working with the Duke,’ said Mr Mauger a 47-year-old consultant anaesthetist at West Suffolk hospital, who has worked with the EAAA for 13 years. ‘They fly in very challenging conditions and land in tight spaces, such as a sports field or busy dual carriageway.’

The Duke will be on a six-strong team on a roster of day and night shifts, which last nine and a half hours and could fall on Christmas Day.

He will have no contact with the Duchess when he is on call-outs as mobile phones must be switched off during rescue flights.

This will be testing for Kate, who has spent the summer with her husband at their Norfolk home since the birth of Princess Charlotte. She has admitted to fearing for her husband’s safety every time he goes up in a helicopter.

However Royal aides have stressed the Duke ‘doesn’t want any special treatment’ and say he is there ‘to do a job’. Although he will continue with official engagements, Prince William considers the new role a full-time job, said an aide.

The Duke will take packed lunches because the base is ‘small and cosy’ with just a microwave and a kettle in the makeshift kitchen.

It’s not known whether the Duchess will be preparing William’s lunch tomorrow but her father-in-law’s organic food line Duchy Originals does cold meats, cheeses and biscuits – and she could probably borrow some Tupperware from William’s grandmother.

(dailymail.co.uk)