Prince William qualifies as Search and Rescue pilot

LONDON - Prince William is all set to graduate as a Search and Rescue Force helicopter pilot and is delighted at finishing the ‘challenging’ course.

The 28-year-old will join 22 Squadron, C Flight as a fully operational co-pilot in a Sea King Mk3 helicopter now that he has completed his flying training.

“I am really delighted to have completed the training course with my fellow students,” the Daily Star quoted the royal, who will be based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, as saying.

“The course has been challenging, but I have enjoyed it immensely. I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honour to serve operationally with the Search and Rescue Force, helping to provide such a vital emergency service.”

Williams has spent the last 18 months on a number of flying courses progressing from squirrel helicopters to griffins and finally spending much of the year at the controls of Sea Kings on an operational conversion unit to prepare him for his new role.

Footage showing the prince on a routine training exercise has been released by the Ministry of Defence to mark the graduation. (ANI)