Prince William and the Air Ambulance

You seem to know an awful lot about them, Anniebach. I would count myself as broadly royalist but have never seen them in RL, wouldn't go out of my way to see them and don't read all these facts that people appear to 'know' . I think he is doing a good job and working for the air ambulance is a sensible choice.

Leticia, I didn't expect an apology, how can you state as fact that I would not approve of anything he does? Do tell.

One thing I do admire him for and that is not subjecting his children to the circus his mother subjected him and his brother to, he does not use his children to get on the front pages of the press

Leticia, if I know something I will say I know, otherwise I post my opinions as do you and all on this thread .

You tell me what you would like him to do- bearing in mind that he is in direct line to the throne, has a personal fortune and a good education.
It needs to be something that everyone can't immediately criticise. Working for a charity is immediately out as Harry has had lots of criticism for doing that.

Leticia, not a case of what I would like him to do, I am thankful he is not out shooting animals every day. Flying his plane is a worthwhile way of using his time , my disagreement is with the - isn't he wonderful saving lives views. No he isn't , he is doing something he enjoys and it happens to involve rescuing injured people,

Where I think he would be of more use - there are many qualified to fly an air ambulance - would be working for centre point, shelter, hospices etc , there are few who could draw attention to charities as he could, as he does for animal welfare , he has chosen something he enjoys and I can understand this but it does not warrent a - isn't he caring, from me

There is one royal I always had great admiration for, Katherine Kent, she manned phones at the Samaritans, she delivered meals on wheels ,she was hands on at Helen House , all this without a scrape of publicity - except for fund raising for Helen House, this I know to be true .

I think in time, he will be one if the men. What he is doing is a privilege really, helping anyone in the dire circumstances that requires Air Ambulance will help him focus on the job in hand and meet his future subjects, for want of a better word, therefore integrating with people. Just hope he sticks at it for a few years at least. Di would be proud of her boys.

I think Katherine Kent a remarkable woman. No fanfare, just a truly good person.

She is a remarkable woman- but she isn't in line for the throne and she has had decades to prove her worth.
He is very young- he has plenty of time to work with charities.
At the moment he is using his training to do a useful job. I don't think anyone is saying 'isn't he wonderful saving lives' - he is a helicopter pilot!
It would be very wasteful to have had all that money spent on his training and then not use it. It must cost thousands to train to be a helicopter pilot. Most people stay in education to give them opportunities to do jobs they enjoy. If you can combine your hobby with work you are very lucky, but lots do and I can't see why it is a black mark against you to have a job you love as if it some sort of indulgence. I loved my job.
I expect that once he has gained experience with a normal job, with normal people, he will be much more useful to a charity.

I have looked it up and it costs about £800,000 to train an RAF helicopter pilot ( a lot less than planes) but still a complete waste if just abandoned. At least he is using it in a worthwhile way and I don't think that the country is awash with unemployed helicopter pilots.
He is also 33 yrs old. Katherine Kent wasn't doing all her charity work at that age- it all came later. She was also doing it in secret. She had worked in a school in Hull for years before the public heard about it. How can we possibly know what William might be doing in secret? Despite all the people on here who appear to know all about him,and his family, we don't know him at all- and I should think that he wants to keep it that way! Katherine Kent sensibly did. You are not much use in a practical sense if it is all reported on in the press - you are more of a hinderance than a help. The publicity is good for fund raising but Anniebach appears to be saying that he should have a hands on role and not a figure head role.
I didn't do any charity work at 33 yrs - I did at 63 yrs. I then had time and life experience and was useful.

So Diana's charity work was a waste of time , she should have waited forty years and The Princes Trust was a failure because Charles was too young . Harry is wise to spend three months in Africa rather do any charity work, he is far too young.

Who is twisting words now?

Just shows how bad habits can so easily picked up Leticia

He already supports 22 charities.

Harry was criticised in the Times yesterday for his 'work' in Africa.

Someone has already said that Prince Charles was a mere figurehead of the Prince's Trust- I was the one who defended him.

People are only too keen to knock Diana for her 'charity work'.

RAF people tend to do something related once they leave.

I seem to remember that when William and Harry went to help with some charity packing aid they were heavily criticised for it just being a photo opportunity.

If he is sensible he will keep any practical charity work a deep secret.
Katherine Kent did. She would have been useless had the media known- it was the very fact that she was able to get on with it. She also had personal tragedy to be of some use. I have had personal tragedy and I wouldn't wish it on anyone but it does give insight and empathy that I couldn't possibly have had aged 33 yrs.

I hate the way these days that no one is allowed to do things quietly, outside the public eye- if they are not seen it doesn't count! Who can possibly say what he does for charity? Maybe when he is 83yrs,like Katherine Kent, people will say how wonderful he was. They didn't say that about her 50 yrs ago!

He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't!

No one's life stands up to that sort of scrutiny. Everyone of us could be criticised heavily for our choices.

I think that if you have been in the RAF and have hundreds of thousands paid to train you then you ought to give something back by using it in a worthwhile capacity. I have known a considerable number of RAF pilots and they have all continued flying as in testing planes for the CAA. They continue flying because they enjoy it and have a skill they can be paid for.

Maybe this is why he doesn't get involved in charity work in a practical way Times yesterday
Much safer to use your skill in flying helicopter- something you do well.

When Diana first started her charity work she did much good, I met her at an event for the deaf association and she had tried very hard to learn signing . An example that young people can do much for a charity without having experience of age or suffering a personal tragedy surely?

I will apologise if you can tell me specifically what he could do for charities like Shelter where he could be useful and free of criticism ( and do more than he does for the 22 charities that he actively supports).
I don't think it possible, but am willing to be proved wrong.

Ah yes, Harry saving the wildlife of Africa

I think Diana was great for charities- you won't find everyone of that opinion.
Some haven't a good word to say for her.

That is the whole point- he is not trying to 'save the wild life of Africa' - he is doing his little bit like everyone else and then he gets sneered at!

I don't think there is a single thing that William could do that you would actually manage to whole heartedly approve of. You certainly haven't told me any yet except some unspecified help for certain charities.

Leticia, where have I said they should be free of criticism ? All I have done is give my opinion on William being hailed a hero for taking a job which allows him to enjoy his hobby . I asked for an apology for you stating I had said things I had not said, I would not expect or ask for an apology for criticism of my opinions ,if I choose to put my neck on the block them I must accept the axe falling

Diana was great for charities untill she started to use them for self publicity , she did much good for the AIDS charity but sadly she even used that towards the end of her life, the Getty panto caused the staff anger and distress .

Everyone else does not take a three month tour of Africa to protect the wildlife

I don't know where he has been hailed as a hero!
He has made a sensible career choice after the RAF - especially as he will be working shifts and be able to fit them with royal duties.

You are perfectly free to have your opinions. Mine is that he can't do a single thing that everyone will like. I don't at all mind you criticising his choice-but you appear to be unable to give an alternative that you would actually like. (Except some vague charity work that he already does.)

If I had a personal fortune I might well take a 3 month tour of Africa to protect wild life- lots would! ( and lots do without the fortune)