I completely missed this until now! I’m sorry. According to Us Weekly, Prince William is definitely going to be leaving the RAF this year, which has long been the rumor. The rumors I’ve heard are complicated – for one, William’s superiors in the RAF have been very displeased with William’s service. He takes off lots of time, not just for his royal duties, but for vacations and the like. Another rumor: William and Kate are kind of tired of pretending they like being in Wales (where William is supposedly stationed full-time). Kate is always finding excuses to come to London or spend time at her parents’ house, and I get the impression that William would probably like to be in London more often too. So, while this news isn’t a surprise, it’s going to be really interesting to see how they play this:
Prince William has handed in his pink slip. The heir to the British throne, 30, has submitted his formal notice with the Search and Rescue Force at Royal Air Force Valley in Anglesey, Wales, a military source confirms exclusively to Us Weekly. The helicopter pilot’s current tour with the RAF concludes this summer.
“William is ready to take on new challenges – as a royal and within the armed forces,” the insider explains. Indeed, come July, William and pregnant wife Kate Middleton will take on the biggest new challenge of all: Parenthood!
The source adds that William “will be making an announcement within the next month and leave RAF Valley around the time of the birth.”
“The decision as to what the Duke will do once his current tour with the Search and Rescue Force comes to an end in late summer is still with the Duke himself,” William’s press officer explained to Us when asked about the royal’s career plans. (It was announced on Tuesday, March 26 that Britain’s search-and-rescue helicopter service is set to be privatized, after being operated by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for more than 50 years. Texas-based firm Bristow scored the winning bid to operate Britain’s “SAR” going forward.)
This week, William and Kate, 31, are spending some “time together” at their Anglesey cottage, another source tells Us. It’s actually the Duchess of Cambridge’s first stay in Anglesey since she became pregnant late last year. “She is feeling great at the moment,” the source adds.
Until now, Kate and William have endured a modified long distance scenario during the pregnancy — with the Duchess staying behind at their Kensington Palace residence in London. “William wishes he could be there with Kate more, but it’s not possible every day,” a royal source says. “They make it work as best they can.”
During William’s absences, the mom-to-be has been tending to her charity engagements and patronages — and honing her Photoshop skills. “She has been working away on a photo project that she’s not telling anyone about yet,” the source says.
And this is what I said years ago when William decided to train to be a search & rescue pilot – while I think William should be admired and praised for wanting to do a difficult job, the bottom line of the matter is that the military (the British taxpayers) spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for William to be trained for a job he would only have for a few years, a job in which he really doesn’t even do full-time.
Meanwhile, William took part in a BBC documentary about his work in the RAF. People Magazine has this breathless report:
Prince William is proud of saving lives, which he has the opportunity to do on his missions as a search and rescue pilot.
“There’s no greater feeling than when you’ve actually done some good and saved someone’s life,” the prince, 30, says in an upcoming documentary. “I don’t think there’s any greater calling in life … to be able to see a son or daughter’s face when you bring their mother or father back from the edge of death – it’s quite powerful.”
Flt. Lt. Wales, as he is known in the RAF, appears in a new series called Helicopter Rescue which starts broadcasting on BBC One Wales on April 8. It is the second series of the show that was first broadcast in 2012. This year follows the crews at William’s base on Anglesey and the RMB Chivenor base in Devon, England. In one scene, William is the captain as the crew is called to an old slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales, where a boy has fallen off an old railway bridge onto rocks.
“As captain you’re trying to play out the entire rescue, the transit to the rescue and back again in your mind, and pick up any circumstances or problems you can foresee, and try and fix them on the ground before you get airborne,” William says.
Sure. I never doubted that William enjoyed the work or that this was a good, admirable project for him to undertake. My qualm was always about how this was never going to be his career. He was always going to be a part-time rescue pilot for a few years until he decided to begrudgingly take on his public role.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
he should. its not appropriate. its too high risk for a future king, imo.
Many british royals have been navy men during conflict. Plus he’s co-piloting the plane not the guy dangling out of it.
I thought maybe another reason he did this job was so that whenever people talk about him, they can point to something else he did other than be royal, and use it as an example of how he has “worked”. To pad the royal résumé, if you will. And plus now it will always be part of the usual backgrounder in any profile or story. Makes him look a little more accomplished than “BA in Art History” or whatever it is that he studied (not knocking on Arts History majors…I can’t rmb what he studie right now)
He studied Geography
Hey! LOL, just kidding.
As an Art History major for Undergrad, even I thought it was a little light and fluffy for a future King. I was surprised that he didn’t study Politics, Social Theory, World Geography or whatever the British name their academic majors. I think that Art History should have been a minor field of study.
You’re right, he (and Kate) studied History of Art.
Ha, I remember one of my professors said it’s the modern equivalent of being a debutante.
That’s not to say it isn’t a good degree; it is quite academic (I think half of Lily Cole’s double first was HoA), but of late, it’s usually the Sloaney pony types who graduate with a 2:2 and then do sod all with their education, and instead get an internship courtesy of The Bank of Mum and Dad.
Ahem. ‘scuse the rant, it’s been a long couple of days!
Ah, no, hang on a minute, Justme is right – he *did* in fact end up with a degree in Geography, having switched subjects from Art History.
Ah, well.
Isn’t there some story that he was going to drop out because he found Art History too difficult? They (his family? the university?) convinced him to stay and he changed his major.
I think there would be easier ways to “pad a resume” if that was what he wanted to do. Some job in the finance district or organic farming (or watching people do organic farming for him like Charles does). Still it didn’t seem like he was really doing it full-time and that’s what the job requires IMO.
It’s a dangerous job. I honestly wouldn’t want my husband working it once kids enter the picture
But I’m also always a bit anxious, and now have added pregnancy hormones.
I can understand a possible reason though
I’m glad he’s leaving–now they can fill his spot with a chap who pulls his weight
Devil’s Advocate here, today. First, I see this as part of the training, education and experience that William or any royal needs to have if they’re going to serve as a monarch beyond charity appearances and world travel to meet foreign dignitaries. Then (being married to a career helicopter pilot), it’s not uncommon for a military pilot to vary assignments — not really expected that they will always and forever serve in the same role.
That said, few military officers/pilots have the “leave” that William has been allowed, which would be more understandable if he spent it on official duties.
Not just that but am I the only one who read in the blurb that the SAR job is being outsourced? His options now are either to become a combat pilot (something that neither he nor the RAF or the royal family want) or leave the service.
Posted in the wrong place 🙂
“First, I see this as part of the training, education and experience that William or any royal needs to have if they’re going to serve as a monarch beyond charity appearances and world travel to meet foreign dignitaries”
There is no such thing as heir training. The royal family are a military family simply because Philip is one and they go by his wishes. Due to their status, they can try all the different services rather than pick just one and stick with that.
If heir training still existed, their education would have been more rigorous and would have included theology or a stint at a vicarage [future heads of the church of England], a stint at the Foreign Office [to learn about diplomatic relations], some sort of economics understanding and perhaps languages. On top of the Military training.
It’s probably for the best. The position can go to someone who really wants it, needs it, and will work to the maximum for the position. Both Wills and the RAF will probably be happier this way.
If the helicopter search and rescue is being privatized this summer, how is this a big shock? The private company is going to hire civilians. None of the RAF guys are going to be there anymore.
All that would happen if he re-upped for another tour this summer is that he’d move to another position in the RAF (not search and rescue) Which comes out to the exact same thing as him ‘formally resigning from Search and Rescue’ I’m sure the other all the RAF search and rescue guys had to submit the same formal paperwork to resign to go somewhere else in the RAF/military.
He will most likely sign up with another military tour somewhere else.
Good post L, completely agree. I’m British and don’t see the problem, maybe it’s because the royals are such a everyday part of life here. William and Kate don’t seem to be doing anything out of the norm for the royal family.
Of course it depends whether you are for or against the monarchy.
I’ve been following this. It’s news because the RAF have been giving William this ultimatum almost every year. Do your job full time or quit. There’s no gray area. Now that it’s going private was probably the push William needed.
I doubt William will go for any more military. More because no one wants to deal with his erratic behavior. Will he show up today? That’s not a question your boss should be asking in a SAR job. I hope h goes to being a full time royal like he should.
Ally. W&K are doing less than other members of the RF. Even those not funded, but still members do more and pay for it out of their own pocket. Hopefully this will change. I hope they turn out to be a hard working, caring couple. That’ll be great.
I’m not sure it is outsourcing this summer. It looks like the contract might begin in 2015.
www(dot)telegraph(dot)co(dot)uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9955709/US-helicopter-company-Bristow-lands-1.6bn-UK-privatisation-contract(dot)html
Wasn’t there something early-on about how William might try to move to Lossiemouth in Scotland for some other flying job after Wales?
It doesn’t matter where they put him, he’ll always be given special treatment. His ‘jobs’ are just a way for him to pass the time until he becomes a full-time royal.
The important thing is that he can’t be seen not doing anything. His wife is already getting a public reputation for being lazy (what’s new?) and adding a lazy, is-he-even-doing-anything William to the mix will not help their PR at all.
Correct. He was given special permission to pilot; he wears contacts/glasses. He was given more time off. He’s taking a salary from someone willing to work so that he has an excuse to be as far removed from royal duty as possible. Soon he’ll be a stay at home dad because they’re such a modern couple.
I thought I heard something before about Will wearing contacts. If this is true, it seems like an important rule that was bypassed for him.
@Belle: not just a rumour. There is plenty of picture proof of William out and about wearing spectacles; as recently as the races 2wks ago.
It’s all just a bloody excuse to avoid having to cut ribbons and visit old age centers.
William is an entitled petulant brat when he doesn’t get his way. And I bet he’s jealous as all get out over his brother’s wild success as opposed to his own tepid acceptance.
I remember Harry with some elderly veterans. It was after William got engaged and the men were asking Harry when he would settle down. Harry was so smooth with his banter and clever in his responses. You can’t teach that.
I see Harry and William like Charles and Diana. When the 2 split to either sides the Charles/William side wishes they were on the Diana/Harry side. William will never want to be doing this work and it will show. He’s just worse than Charles because William wants all the praise because he’s entitled to it by birth order.
If my only work requirement was to rub elbows, talk to people, and cut a few ribbons a few times a week I would do it without a fuss. He needs to man up or Harry will outshine him more without the “William saved some hikers” plant to fall back on.
It’s about time.
The Queen and DoE aren’t getting any younger. The Duke of Kent was also hospitalized last week. These 3 senior members of the British Royal family have been doing several hundred events per year per person, not as a whole.
It’s time for William to finally accept his position as the heir’s heir and take on more royal duties. He’s 30 years old, he can pick up the other royals’ workload since he is younger and needs more experience to completely settle in his role.
He’s been lazy for far too long, having so many absences and leaves at the RAF and his license almost taken away because he barely made the minimum amount of flying hours. Now someone at the RAF can have his spot and actually do the job well.
I had a chuckle reading that part where Kate is “honing” her Photoshop skills and working on a project she’s not telling anyone yet. 😀 Aside from the rare 3-4 appearances per month, she’s also busy learning how to Photoshop.
Good for her to have a ‘hobby’, I guess? She can only do so much Starbucks trips, walk in the parks, shopping, and holidaying. Her interest in photography has been touted by the media for a long time. Maybe this will be a great development for her.
TOtally agree Sachi.
Have to admit, when I read the photshop thing I wondered if she reads celebitchy and took that awesome suggestion about a calendar or postcards to heart! Smack me.
That’s what I thought, too, bluhare. I immediately went, “bluhare and several others from CB suggested that a few months ago!” 😀
See, we’re not just a bunch of angry, jealous people. We actually have ideas on how to help Kate do something with her time and repair her image. 😉
(future PR stories from William and Kate)
Since prince William never had a normal childhood, he has decided to leave his job, scale down his already bare minimum royal duties to be a stay home father with a normal stay home wife and 4 nannies (2 for day and 2 for night)
After some backlash)
It is now known that William and Kate doesn’t want any nannies, they were both looking forward to waking up in night, changing nappies etc but the bad pompous, extravagant Charles gifted them the nannies, so out of their politeness, goodness of their heats, kind hearted gesture they decided to not refuse the help and be considerate towards his feelings. Also a close palace source added that the generous duke and duchessdecided not to claim child and unemployment benefits after seeing the economic crisis in their country and choose to speed the millions inherited by saint Diana and of course evil Charles. They made this decision together even though they were offered benefits and childcare from government while other stay home parents are not as the government realises they are raising the most important child in this world. Pm was very pleased to hear that they are not claiming benefits and said this makes them such good role models that parents ask over England should look up to.
(I am trying to be sarcastic if that’s not obvious)
Awesome, Angelic!
I can honestly see Cameron praising the Cambridges exactly how you said he might.
That man felt he needed to weigh in on Hilary Mantel’s comments and defend Kate while also coming across as not having read/understood the entirety of Mantel’s comments and was just going off on a knee-jerk reaction, like most Kate sycophants tend to do.
He’s ridiculous.
Applause!!!
Spot on, Angelic. I know English isn’t your first language but you’re very good with sarcasm in it!
I’ll ask what I always ask: why doesn’t Britain have a more serious movement to abolish royalty? If I were a British taxpayer, my blood would be boiling.
The economy is brutal right now, and so many people are losing what little they have. I honestly cannot believe people are not more outraged by the money these useless people soak up. Is it just a matter of time?
Two words: The Queen.
After that, all bets are off.
Your lips, God’s ear!
I hope you are right. Lets fire these twits.
Tourism: Qith all of the castles, museums, historic sites, theatre, beautiful natural landscapes, etc. I doubt Britain will ever be hurting on the tourism front. Fire them. Treat the royal properties as museums, hire some historic re-enactors if you must, maybe toss in specials that allow rich tourists to sleep in the queens bed, and the tourism economy will be booming away.
Think of all the money that could be used to beef up education, the arts, healthcare… You name it.
Why? We pay 52p a year, they’re not exactly breaking the bank and they bring heaps of money in with tourism. They’re not doing us any harm.
Pixie
How much per year does the RF bring in for tourism? It seems that not all RF members receive public funds directly, but through different channels they all benefit directly from public funds.
I just want to get my numbers straight before I say anything on this matter.
Pixie – that figure is a myth since many items aren’t included plus the sum is divided by ENTIRE population of the UK irrespective of age or personal and economic circumstance or health.
That means babies, pensioners, prisoners, inpatients etc as an example as well as working adults are contributing to the royal family if you believe that figure that you quote.
FLORC – This is a republican website that has an estimate of the true figure. http://www.republic.org.uk/What%20we%20want/In%20depth/Royal%20finances/index.php
Please bear in mind that their agenda is to abolish the Monarchy so there may be some exxageration, but it’s the closest thing one finds to the true estimate of what the family costs the ADULT taxable population of the UK.
Thanks LAK
I look forward he 15 page report (13 pages including graphs and excluding title and contact pages.) Looks like a perfect bedtime read!
Honestly, as a British taxpayer, I’m honestly not too fussed.
IMO, I think any income we get as a result of tourism balances out the fact that a lot of the younger royals are somewhat lacking in work ethic.
Although, Beatrice and Eugenie have jobs, Zara is an Olympic horserider and Harry is … well, Harry.
It’s Waity, Wills and poor, ickle wet-behind-the-ears Edward who could do with bucking up a bit.
The RF are also a significant part of the UK’s history and culture, and personally, I think abolishing the monarchy after so many centuries would be a bit sad, really. I think the vast majority of the country is pro-Royalty. You need only look at the turnout at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year (in pouring rain, no less) to see that.
Speaking of the Queen, I highly recommend ‘her’ blog and Twitter, I discovered it a couple of days ago. Aha, the open letter to Justin Bieber!
http://gin-oclock.com/
@Amelia – ginOclock.com is genuis. i suffer from such bad insomnia, that is going to give me hours of fun whilst i try to sleep.
‘accidentally bought Cyprus’ gave me such fits of giggles. On second thoughts perhaps reading a funny blog isn’t the way to try to sleep.
I never understood the whole “royals bring in tourism” angle. Most tourists (me included) visit England to see historic royal castles/jewels/properties but don’t give a hoot about seeing current royals.
I can’t think of a single thing that the current royals do to bring in foreign tourists in droves. Other than the changing of the guard at Buck House, and you could stage that in front of an empty palace.
Wasn’t the tourist draw for the Jubilee year a wash because the amount of money brought in was balanced out by the drop in businesses that were closed for portions of the festivities?
Well, I guess there are always the weddings. But they are few and far between.
@Amelia; I too am a British taxpayer and I very much object to Waity K, Willy and the rest of them. And until I see some numbers, I’m not buying the tourism argument; plus France still seems to get plenty of tourists visiting their palaces quite some time after they decided to give their royals the chop. Also, other things which are a significant part of Britain’s culture and history include selling black people to other white people, not allowing women to vote and making it illegal to be gay. Happily we’ve stopped doing all those things, so I think we could totes ditch the royals too and would be much better for it.
Surely Harry alone is worth the cost to tax payers.
They’re a tourist attraction and good PR oveseas. To be honest getting rid of the royals wouldn’t make an ounce of difference financially to a single British person,the 200 million a year the family costs would be squandered somewhere else by the government and they would just pack up their antiques and paintings and personal fortune and live happily in the country side with no responsibilities, no press breathing down their necks and living a charmed life. Frankly I think that’s exactly what William would like.
The cost of the Monarchy is a pittance compared to the rest of the social benefits bill (i.e. state hand outs) which is in fact 1/3rd of the UK’s income. That along with a lax tax department which fails to collect over 6 billion a year in owed taxes is the reason for Britain economic state not the Royal Family and most people know this.
Most people would prefer to have Princess Anne or Prince Phillip open their new hospital wing or attend their yearly fishmongers banquet and prize giving than some boring politician or town councillor.
Let’s face facts. He was going to get fired. So rather than say that, they have to say he quit and parenthood is as good an excuse as any.
My thoughts exactly.
Not a fan of either Willy or Waity, probably because they seem so disingenuine. They strike me as entitled, spoiled, young adults.
I’m envisioning Waity doing Photoshop on some of the pap photography of her that has been less than complimentary. 🙂
He is looking old. Boo.
But Charles did this, too: he trained in several high-profile military jobs in each of the services, to “gain experience and insight” for his future role as king. Whether it’s a waste of money or not, it’s a very old way of treating the heir to the throne. They serve for a few years in one job, then move on. Meanwhile, the younger sons can/should take a long-term military assignment. It goes all the way back to Victoria and Albert’s sons, and it was so much the expected pattern that Edward’s decision to quit the marines in the 1980s was hugely controversial. (In fact, Andrew’s been at dangerously loose ends ever since he quit the military, too, but that’s a side issue here.)
Then again, I think Charles and Camilla actively discourage William and Kate from taking on more high-profile work, whether because they’re coddling William or because they don’t want to be overshadowed (being overshadowed is the great psychological demon of Charles’s life). Do I wish William and Kate did more royal work? Yes. Do I think it’s entirely THEIR decision? No.
Now, the whole “Kate is feeling better” thing — UGH. My sister had HG for all four of her pregnancies and Kate’s miraculous improvement makes me doubt she ever had HG at all.
Well unlike William all other hires actually worked at their military job and not treat it like a part time after school gig. Also William is in control, after ask the radiations he broke anyone who thinks otherwise is quite frankly very naive. Wait with them there will ALWAYS BE 1 EXCUSE OR THE OTHER, he had already said it in many interviews very openly that he don’t want to do royal duties and Charles have nothing to do with this.
On a related note, the Telegraph today has a hilarious summary of Pippa Middleton’s new advice column. Really, it parodies itself.
Luckily they included some quotes:
“In her first magazine piece, entitled Pippa’s Friday Night Feasts, the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister offers tips on how to make a ginger mojito to “kick off your Friday night” and sushi rolls.
Her recipe for tangerine and sake jellies with coconut cream includes the advice: “Get ahead by making the jellies the night before.”
Further suggestions include using “bright flowers” to “soften angular Asian-style tableware”.
Miss Middleton also advises readers that paper lanterns, fairy lights or floating candles can “set the mood”.”
#pippatips!
Gosh, this is the longest goodbye ever. it may be longer than Tony Blair’s long goodbye.
Fact: his unit is being disbanded this summer due to govt cuts.
He can’t stay in Wales even if he wanted to.
It’s interesting though that they keep pushing these balloons into the press of his transferring to Scotland or Household Calvary, just to see how it will go over with the public so he doesn’t have to take on royal duties.
As always with William, it’s always intentions rather than action.
I will believe he has quit when the announcement is official.
PS: As a future POW, he hasn’t shown any commitment to Wales, has he? I bet his knowledge of Wales is as deep as mine. ie nada.
At first i thought it was a really great way for him to show his Welsh commitment per POW requirements, but then realised how lazy he is and how little community spirit he has in general, so i doubt very much that his time in Wales brought him any closer to the Welsh people.
I think we all know the answer to Kate’s welsh commitment. It’s such a shame because she could have used her down time to practise with the welsh what she would need for the wider country.
I’m not British but I am retired from the military.
I’m not a fan of William or his wife, however, William is 30 now and he’s been in the military (part-time) for how long?
4, 6, 8 years?
MOST military personnel don’t stay much longer than 4-8 years, so, I’m not hating on him for doing his service and then leaving.
I just hope he and his wife will start doing more of SOMETHING such as charity work rather than vacations.
what are royals supposed to do for “work” anyway? I’d be happier if they just owned up to the fact that they don’t need to work, go away from the public eye and live private elite lives while donating to charity now and then like the rest of the world’s royals. They’re such media wh0res. What’s truly expected of them, because they certainly aren’t filling Diana’s shoes.
Eurgh they’re not media whores. They support and donate to charity and raise the profile of the UK. If you look at the jubilee year and the revenue we recieved from that, then you’ll have an answer to your question. Also, please don’t bring Diana into this- she has nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Diana is used by William to burnish his own image that you can’t blame the public for doing the same when they criticise him.
@ Pixie
I like the Royal Family because I love the history and tradition it represents. I also love pomp and circumstance!
But your statement is a little simplistic. The Diamond Jubilee was estimated to give a +/-GPB920 million bump to the tourism sector. The economy as a whole, however, lost an estimated GBP1.2 billion from businesses being closed for the holiday.
I agree with the Bluhare above. After the Queen, all bets are off.
Even the Daily Mail has wondered what is going to happen when she is gone. And it is funny that the article ends with talk about how wildly popular Will and Kate are – that worm has turned.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2157850/Would-monarchy-survive-King-Charles.html
Mich,
In addition to what u said
This 52p figure doesn’t include the cost of security plus funds from various duchies and upkeep cost of various palaces etc.
The Us Weekly report is ridiculous – they make it work as best they can?! Sorry, but those two have NO idea what it’s like to be a military family. Most soldiers don’t get private rides home to visit their family every week. They don’t get time off every week, come to think of it.
Not sure who put that quote out, but it was an epic fail if they’re trying to make K&W look like a modern military couple.
My assumption is that it’s simply part of his transition to being a father. He wants to be home to raise his kid, rather than taking risks and being away a lot.
Yeah, he’ll be doing a lot of raising, in between exotic beach vacations, hunting in Scotland, skiing in Gstaad (or wherever), weekend parties away with the cronies….
Civilians will soon be replacing all of the RAF and Royal Navy pilots in the Search and Rescue Service…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8921347/Navy-and-RAF-search-and-rescue-privatised-despite-Prince-William-objections.html
William grew up as one of the most privileged kids on the planet. How often do you think he hears someone say ‘no’? Clearly not in school, not friends, not girls, and apparently not even the military. The more information that comes out about him, the more he seems like a douche.
So a young man in his early 30s (or is he just turning 30) who barely works and would like to spend more time in London, is going to quit his job.
That’s fine, I guess (if you overlook the fact that it costs loads of money to train him and he took a spot another person could have done with devotion).
My only question is, what other job did he find?
He is going to be a father and has the responsibility to work to support his family and be a role model to his child to be hard -working and not a bum.
I really can’t see how English people who I don’t consider to be lazy or hedonists, see this guy and his wife as some sort of idols and role-models, to the extent that they are willing to pay for their lavish lifestyle.
That’s simply confusing.
I know wealthy people and they all have jobs and seem dedicated and hard-working.
This family is just bizar.
Well, after the Queen, all bets are off. She’s made some mistakes over the years (i.e. the situation right after Diana died) but overall, she has worked hard and been dedicated to her country. She started at an early age. Willy would be smart to read some biographies on his grandmother and maybe he would learn something.
I’m going to be nice and just say that Kate looks really pretty in those last two photos. 🙂
Of course, after peeking through the other story (Kate) and getting a look at some of the ‘real’ photos of her, it is obvious these are just as photo shopped as most of those we see… but pretty!
I’m really uncomfortable with this criticism.
I went to a health care professional school in NYC, where we had a significant number of female students who were Orthodox Jews.
Now, the school, and thus the taxpayers of New York, spent significant amount of time and money training these women for a profession which they were only going to do for a few years- those women would stop working after they got married and started having babies.
Should the school have barred entrance to those women? Should employers be wary of hiring women because after they trained those women, some women will get pregnant and not return?
I understand the point you are making, and it’s a very good point.
However, the point remains the same ie training someone who isn’t going to do the job is a waste of that money. It is doubly wasteful for William because he was trained at tax payer expense AND they bent the rules to allow him to train. The rules are cast iron unless you are the heir to the throne it seems. And he wasn’t an examplary student during the training because he cost the RAF extra by doing things like take helicopters for joyrides to showoff to his GF or attend stag dos etc. And when he qualified, he gave such little commitment to the job that the RAF gave him an Ultimatum and publicised some of his less than stellar record such as his almost losing his licence due to barely making the minimum flying hours. The minimum hrs are 15 per month. William says he can’t be a full time royal because he is so busy with RAF. Well the RAF made it very clear that he wasn’t spending that much time with them!!!!
So it’s been a complete waste of everybody’s time and money and more trouble than it was worth to the RAF.
Dana
Those girls went to school for their “Mrs.”. That’s what some of my aunts went for too. It was approached differently as well. If that woman’s husband got sick and couldn’t work she would have a skill. It was both a way to meet eligible men and have a financial fallback plan.
What William did was take a job and pay for a job he barely did. If he wasn’t royal he would have been fired and not even had the job in the first place. He only held that position as a good PR move and he’s only left willingly because it would have looked bad if he was fired or asked to leave.
The buyout contract for the search and rescue missions doesn’t go into 2015, so that doesn’t explain why William has to leave now. I’m guessing the baby is coming so he’s finding a way to get out of this now but again, if you look that the timeline, it isn’t necessary for him to be turning in a resignation now by any means.