Prince William to leave the armed services

[baffledmum]

I am a fan of the monarchy but this has just made me stop and think...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24065166

Hmmm – not going to a “full time royal” = part-time royal then. What's he doing with the rest of his time?

I'd be happy to give up my job to focus on royal work and charity duties if someone can tell me where to apply! Or am I just being mean and unreasonable that he can afford to?

Re. all the palaces and comparisons to people claiming benefits, I wonder what the Royal family's 'bedroom tax' bill would be?

Maybe Beatrice will start something up to save the Scottish wildlife.

Save the badger?

I am surprised with no glasses on that William didn't confuse Beatrice with a stag at his wedding.

Prince William will owe the taxpayer £400,000 if he quits early as a helicopter pilot to take up Royal duties, the Sunday People has revealed .

But RAF chiefs have decided to write off the bill in the interests of the nation.

Search-and-rescue pilots like William have to agree to stay in service for six years if they are accepted for the £800,000 training course.

But the 30-year-old prince is set to leave when his current tour of duty at RAF Valley in Anglesey , North Wales, ends in September.

While sources have confirmed that a request for the outstanding £400,000 would be met, the RAF has decided not to make it.

A senior RAF source said: “The RAF view is that the education of the future King in military matters is hugely important to the nation.

“Prince William’s training has been money well-spent whatever the length of service.”

William, who is to become a dad when wife Kate, 30, gives birth in July, is believed to have decided after much personal anguish to move to full-time royal duties – although he may stay in RAF uniform for three years.

A Ministry of Defence source admitted it was rare for a pilot to leave early but demands for a payback depended on circumstances.

He said: “If it is somebody using the RAF training to go into a commercial flying career that is very different to somebody transferring to other public duties.”

That story was from quite a while ago

CuteDesigns....nice. Proud of that comment?

hester cute was referring to the hat!

Pfft...Jealous much?

Her hat was referred to as looking like antlers, she auctioned it off as it was infamous.

I love that when you express mild surprise at an able-bodied woman in her thirties never having had a job you are accused of being consumed by jealousy.

As for William, how much did it cost us to train him? Money well spent.

Butwilliseeyouagain it cost £800,000

Sorry, just saw someone answered my question! $400,000. If he had a mild passing interest in the RAF he should have rented Top Gun on DVD and saved us all a fortune.

X-posted! 800,000k, better and better.

"Save the animals! Not the ones I shoot for fun, obviously. But the other ones!" Would make a catchy bumper sticker.

I would have on my new shiny car, outside my heavily guarded but empty mansion...

'And people hate YOU for claiming a few thousand in benefits....'

I think you're all very mean-spirited. These are two people who didn't create the monarchy and didn't ask to be born into it. They're pleasant and hard-working (I really do think so!). I don't see why Kate wasn't allowed to work for her parents (my husband works jolly hard for his parents). Just because you can't see her going to work each day doesn't mean she wasn't. As for using her degree, how many jobs are available in art history? I read English. No jobs. If my dad had a company I'd be in it.

They probably wouldn't have done anything to get into the history books on their own. So bloody what? Kate loves her husband. She greets each day with a smile when I'd personally be tearing my hair out. She's a good daughter and mother. Plenty of women spend their twenties hoping their beloved will pop the question. She's Bridget Jones, for crying out loud! What were we expecting? Mother Theresa? When one considers other people in the public eye, I think we've got off very lightly - they're flying the flag for family values, at least, they're not addicted to anything that we know of and they seem to eat healthily and exercise. This is more than many of us are managing at the moment.

Why must we expend negative emotions on people who are only doing the best with what they've got? By all means, say the role is pointless and the funds should be redirected. But there's no need to criticise the people, especially when they are probably being pulled in several different directions at once. I suspect William would rather fly his helicopter than do whatever it is he's going to be doing.

I agree with Onesleeptillwembley. I was astounded William thought Kate was a good idea. She did nothing with her life after university so I think she's a terrible role model for young girls. Didn't one of Prince Charles' ex press officers spill the beans once and say he was very good at looking busy when in actual fact he has lots of time off? Can't remember who it was exactly. They do royal engagements in fits and bursts so it looks like they're busy with long periods of doing nothing in between. What a cushy job/life Kate landed herself.

A Flt Lt gets basic pay of £38k a year. He did not draw this wage (well he did, but it went straight into welfare funds) He was also on a short contract, designed specifically for him as he was only supposed to spend 3 years in the military, spending 1 year with each of the Services so he was better able to understand once he becomes the head of the military - his father did the same. British Military Personnel have respect for them for doing this.

He asked to stay on after what should have been the end of his RAF contract. In doing so he saved money that would have otherwise been wasted. Air Sea Rescue is about to be privatised and is going to cost the British Public a damn sight more that £800k - they won't be doing it for free. Prince William 'retiring' now is far less embarassing to the Government that "Prince William Made Redundant". Politics is behind this decision.

I have no issue with republicans slagging off the Royal Family. But if you are going to do so please ensure you have at least a little understanding of the situation.

" I suspect William would rather fly his helicopter than do whatever it is he's going to be doing."

More than likely.

Still, he could stand aside & have an RAF career...

I find it hard to feel sorry for them.

They'll never have to worry about anything for themselves or their children.

And in return, what do they have to do?

Gotta love sychophants!

fabergeegg how do you know she is a good daughter/mother?

Do you know her personally?

Or do you just swallow up all the nice controlled press releases and appearances?

No they didn't create the monarchy. But I don't see them doing anything to remedy it.

I mean in this day and age, with democracy and all that jazz how can you justify telling children 'We all deserve to be equal, you can be whatever you want to be....oh that. No you can't be that, you have to be born into that job'

And another thing...don't compare that woman to Bridget Jones! Jones is my hero! And I seriously doubt future queen of hearts has ever made blue (or any other kind of) soup.

LtEveDallas even if he is effectively made redundant, why not do something else? He must have seen this coming. I'm a little suspicious that he has a baby and almost immediately announces that he intends to spend the next year doing nothing.

That's interesting LtEveDallas.

Where did you get that info from?

I totally agree with you on all counts OP.

He could stick to a "proper job" for a good few more years yet. It is very disappointing and a bit lazy

And come on, head of the military? So he'll be calling the strategic shots, will he? He won't just be wearing a chestful of medals while inspecting the troops in front of the assembled press?