Prince William started his new job as an air ambulance pilot on Monday and was swiftly in the air on an emergency mission.
The Duke of Cambridge, 33, second in line to the throne, said he hoped he could juggle fatherhood, royal duties and his new role in the skies.
"It's my first day and I'm feeling the nerves," he said at a drizzle-soaked Cambridge Airport.
"I'm really looking forward to getting started."
Two months into becoming a father of two after the birth of Princess Charlotte, William began his first shift with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), a charity providing emergency helicopter cover across eastern England.
William, who spent three years as a military search and rescue helicopter pilot, has gone through months of exams and training to convert to his new civilian role.
Two hours after clocking in for duty, the prince and his crew-mates were dispatched on his first emergency call-out.
"Doing a job like this really helps me to be grounded and that's the core of what I'm trying to become," he said.
"I'm trying to be a good guy, to do what I can and trying to be a decent individual."
He suggested there was no reason why he could not carry on flying helicopters until he becomes king.
"There's nothing to say I couldn't do it for the rest of my life," the duke said.
"Inevitably down the line, things will probably become a little bit more difficult for me to do that.
"At the moment I'm juggling it and enjoying it.
"While I'm still relatively young, I will manage the two jobs the best I can."
The prince will work four days on, four days off.
Prince George a 'little monkey'
William, his wife Kate and their young children Prince George and Charlotte split their time between their Kensington Palace apartment in London and Anmer Hall, a country mansion on Queen Elizabeth II's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England.
Cambridge lies between the two.
George, third in line to the throne, turns two on July 22, while Charlotte was born on May 2 this year. She was christened on July 5.
Asked about the birth of Charlotte, he said: "It's been fantastic, she's been a little joy of heaven.
"At the same time it is more responsibility looking after two little ones, especially when George is around -- he's a little monkey."
But he added: "It's no more difficult than what everyone else has to do."
Employed by Bond Air Services helicopter operators, he is donating his £40,000 ($62,000, 56,000-euro) salary in full to charity.
Road traffic crashes make up the majority of the air ambulance's call-outs but they also have to respond to sporting injuries and other accidents.
AFP
Mon Jul 13 2015
![Prince William takes off in new air ambulance job Prince William takes off in new air ambulance job](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-07/61436797504_PRINCEWILLIAM.jpg)
Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge sits in the cockpit of his helicopter as he begins his new job as a pilot for EAAA. - Stefan Rousseau, Pool Photo via AP
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.