Author Topic: Prince William to put military service before royal duty (Read 1008 times)

wannable · « **on:** February 11, 2012, 11:23:24 PM »

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Prince William to put military service before royal duty
The Duke of Cambridge has signalled that he will extend his RAF service beyond next year, because he hopes to start a family away from the spotlight of royal duties.

The Duke appears to be relishing his latest posting to the Falkland Islands as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, but was widely expected to leave the Armed Forces next year to become a full-time working royal.
Now, however, he has signalled that he will extend his RAF career and start a family as a serviceman.
The second in line to the throne is understood to have decided to stay on beyond mid-2013, when his current three-year tour of duty ends.
The move could allow the Duke, 29, and the Duchess of Cambridge, 30, to begin to raise a family together in the military, away from the spotlight of official royal life.
Having already served for six years, the choice of an extended career in the Forces would break with recent royal tradition.

A senior royal aide said: "The Duke is very keen on his flying, very good at it, and he wants to continue with his military career.
"Should the Duke and Duchess choose to have children within the next few years, he is keen to bring them up as children of a serviceman for as long as possible.
"He is in no hurry to take up a more prominent role within the Royal Family, and there is absolutely no pressure from the Queen or anywhere within the royal household for him to do so.
"The Duke is conscious of other members of the Royal Family, including his grandfather, who gave up their military careers to take up greater official responsibilities, but he is not keen to do this if he doesn't need to.
"When the time comes, down the line, he wants to be able to look servicemen in the eye and say 'I did my time'."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-william/9076450/Prince-William-to-put-military-service-before-royal-duty.html

Around September and October 2011, there were several articles related to Prince William extending his Military career until 2016. The Telegraph claims it will possibly happen.

Here are the threads related to this new topic.

http://royalinsight.net/forum/duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge/prince-tells-queen-he-wants-to-stay-in-the-raf/msg1084805/#msg1084805
http://royalinsight.net/forum/duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge/prince-william's-exclusive-unprecedented-and-candid-interview/msg1080769/#msg1080769

Lindelle · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2012, 11:51:47 PM »

I'm glad he can do so.
He's not being forced to do something he's clearly not ready for.

wannable · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2012, 12:13:18 AM »

I don't think its a question of being ready, but a question of being a 'Prince In Waiting' like his dad. If he extends until 2016, then the above links of his candid interview and the article that claims William had tet-a-tet with the Sovereign and POW, whom both agreed with it, then its apparent he won't be a full time royal until the incapacitation or death of a senior royal.

cinrit · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2012, 12:22:49 AM »

There really is no reason for him to be a full-time Royal right now. William is defining a new role in the Royal Family ... heir to the heir. I like his reasoning that when the time comes, he will be able to look servicemen in the eye, knowing that he's done his part.

I also like that he wants to start his family away from the glare of the media. He knows what it was like to be in that position.

Cindy

Lindelle · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2012, 01:12:32 AM »

I disagree wannable, the guy is simply not ready - he's never been a full-time royal to date.
He needs to be in the front seat a little longer.

Eri · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2012, 08:05:20 AM »

I know people will "hate" on him for it but let's imagine for a moment if he didn't have a job with people like Princess Ann not backing down he would STILL be a part time Royal how would that look? Bad , bad PR...

memememe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2012, 09:52:28 AM »

Let's not forget that he has been trained since birth to do the important stuff that is involved in being the monarch - reading and signing the legislation. All the rest is simply the sop to the masses to make them feel good - cheap entertainment.

snokitty · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2012, 11:30:55 AM »

When you consider the age of the Queen and the Prince of Wales I think this is an incredibly selfish thing for Prince William to do. He needs to take part of the workload off of the older members of the Monarchy. He has already earned as much right to look soldiers in the eye and say I understand you as he is going to. Soldiers are always going to understand that he received special treatment that they never did so they will respect him or they won't and shirking his responsibilities to the Monarchy will not change that.

cinrit · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2012, 12:17:03 PM »

^^ I don't know ... has he received special treatment?

Cindy

snokitty · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2012, 12:32:57 PM »

Prince William will never purposely be put in any imminent danger and most military personnel do not have body guards following them around. The fact that he is heir to the throne will automatically bring into effect many rules that aren't there for other soldiers including his own brother Prince Harry. That is just the way of things.

cinrit · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2012, 01:01:42 PM »

I agree that he would never be sent to the "front lines". His job in SAR, though, is dangerous in itself, so he's not safely behind a desk. You raise a good point about his protection officers, though. How involved are they when he is active in the SAR? Do they sleep in the same area as enlisted men? Surely they don't go up in the helicopter on rescue missions?

Cindy

RoyalB · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2012, 03:22:54 PM »

^ I was wondering the same thing, Cindy.

I don't see William being able to stay too much longer in military service, though. Five years tops. And that should be enough.

cinrit · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2012, 03:52:35 PM »

^^ I don't see any longer than that, either.

Cindy

Wilkat · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2012, 04:11:32 PM »

I admire his sincerity in his career. Sure it would be much easier for him if he left the RA and began the royal appearance circuit where he tasted lager, watched personnel in factories, went to lunch with architects and all that but Will is made of sterner stuff and wants a real career. ( Anyone remember those folks who whinged that his training was for naught? )

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While some courtiers are understood to be keen to build on the royal wedding "bounce" factor and hope that the Duke and Duchess will increase their public duties, the Duke, who was commissioned into the Armed Forces in 2006 and began a six-week stint in the South Atlantic earlier this month, is known to be sensitive at being seen to encroach on his father's role as heir to the throne.

Following a recent poll that found 56 per cent of the public would prefer him over the Prince of Wales as their next king, the Duke let it be known that there was "no question" over whether the Prince of Wales would be the next monarch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-william/9076450/Prince-William-to-put-military-service-before-royal-duty.html

I'm glad he is not taking the easy way out. He and Kate will do a lot to support the queen's diamond jubilee this year but not overshadow his dad and wife. We can't have that.

DrReSi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2012, 07:49:13 AM »

Why do I have a feeling Clarence House will deny the story?

Eri · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2012, 01:38:39 PM »

^They aren't .

Isla · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2012, 01:42:29 PM »

I am curious as to how much of this (if it is true) can actually be Prince William's decision. The media has always painted the picture of him being close to his Grandmother, who he meets with frequently, to discuss his role and duties. If Prince William has decided to extend his military career and start a family in Wales, I would assume that his superiors (and his wife!) have been a part of that decision. I understand his desire for privacy, but the Cambridges are one of the most popular aspects of the British Monarchy - I can't imagine the people of Britain (and us in the Commonwealth!) wanting one of the driving forces to remain behind the scenes for the next 5 years!

Windsor · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:57:52 PM »

Quote from: memememe on February 12, 2012, 09:52:28 AM

Let's not forget that he has been trained since birth to do the important stuff that is involved in being the monarch - reading and signing the legislation. All the rest is simply the sop to the masses to make them feel good - cheap entertainment.

Actually, no... Not even the Prince of Wales has been privy to the Red Boxes Queen Elizabeth II reviews on a daily basis, his training in this regard is almost non existant.

sandy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:19:03 PM »

This could be press speculation. I don't t hink Wills is the type to give the press such info. I'll believe it if or when I see it thought it wouldn't surprise me if he puts off royal duties for a few more years. I don't think this would go over too well with some of the public who perhaps want to see him doing his share for the Firm. Particularly since his grandmother is 85 plus and his dad will be 65 in 2013. I think he should take on more royal responsibilities instead of the military duty. He is the future of the monarchy and I hope he doesn't reenlist.

sandy · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:22:36 PM »

Quote from: Wilkat on February 12, 2012, 04:11:32 PM

I admire his sincerity in his career. Sure it would be much easier for him if he left the RA and began the royal appearance circuit where he tasted lager, watched personnel in factories, went to lunch with architects and all that but Will is made of sterner stuff and wants a real career. ( Anyone remember those folks who whinged that his training was for naught? )

Quote
While some courtiers are understood to be keen to build on the royal wedding "bounce" factor and hope that the Duke and Duchess will increase their public duties, the Duke, who was commissioned into the Armed Forces in 2006 and began a six-week stint in the South Atlantic earlier this month, is known to be sensitive at being seen to encroach on his father's role as heir to the throne.

Following a recent poll that found 56 per cent of the public would prefer him over the Prince of Wales as their next king, the Duke let it be known that there was "no question" over whether the Prince of Wales would be the next monarch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-william/9076450/Prince-William-to-put-military-service-before-royal-duty.html

I'm glad he is not taking the easy way out. He and Kate will do a lot to support the queen's diamond jubilee this year but not overshadow his dad and wife. We can't have that.

William can't sit in a corner and hide out lest he "overshadow" people. I somehow don't think the Queen thinks of her own grandson as "overshadowing her"--he is the future of the monarchy and both she and Charles should be proud of him instead of afraid he will "overshadow". Sounds dyfunctional if they truly think that way, IMO anyway

I don't think William thinks royal duties are "easier". If he did I doubt he'd have wanted to go to SAR in the first place. I think he himself likes a more private life, which has nothing to do with him "fearing" his grandmother and dad will be "overshadowed" by him. I think he himself wants to postpone royal duties for as long as possible which might not be the best move for the royal family as a whole.

Charles built his own charity and his royal work was not limited to 'tasting lager.' William can make a difference if he put in time doing charity work and reaching out like his father does. Royals CAN make a difference and not be lightweights "tasting lager."

Unless he wants to bow out of line of succession, William should figure that life is unpredictable and he may not have the luxury of going into SAR and not being seen doing duties all that often. If his dad or grandmother were incapacitated he'd need to fill in for t hem, for instance.

cinrit · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:05:02 PM »

^^ I think Wilkat was being sarcastic about William overshadowing the Queen. Hence, the winking smiley.

Nor did anyone say anything about Charles or the Queen thinking that William will overshadow her/them. (But it could possibly happen without Charles or the Queen worrying about it or even thinking about it. Not saying it would ever happen, and not saying I want it to happen ... just saying it's possible.)

I'm sure William is old enough to realize that life is unpredictable. I'm sure he knows he needs to step in when duty calls, and I have no doubt he'll do just that when the time comes. However, I do wish we'd stop thinking about how or when Charles or the Queen might become "incapacitated". It's inevitable that it's going to happen, but there's no sense in dwelling on it every time we think of William being on the SAR team.

Cindy

Wilkat · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2012, 07:04:44 PM »

William and Harry have had their own charities for years. They are able to serve their country and carry out their charity work in tandem. When Prince Charles was 30, he said he was still trying to define his role and he was still going from woman to woman ( I can name about a dozen of them )

Will chose his career ( role ) and wife early on and simply got on with his royal service and life. It's better he rescue those in peril than to plant trees and visit the opera on opening nights, the role of the Prince Of Wales, the queen's liege man. I believe the queen is pleased with Will and his accomplishments as he continues to appear in public and travel when she so wishes. He serves his country on many levels.

He has expressed many times that he will not infringe on his father's role and he means it.

memememe · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:01:49 PM »

Quote from: Windsor on February 13, 2012, 04:57:52 PM

Quote from: memememe on February 12, 2012, 09:52:28 AM
Let's not forget that he has been trained since birth to do the important stuff that is involved in being the monarch - reading and signing the legislation. All the rest is simply the sop to the masses to make them feel good - cheap entertainment.

Actually, no... Not even the Prince of Wales has been privy to the Red Boxes Queen Elizabeth II reviews on a daily basis, his training in this regard is almost non existant.

Training doesn't mean he has to see the actual papers. The Queen can easily take them through what they have to do - and she can allow them to see what she thinks they need to see. Charles has seen a lot of the papers - just as The Queen did while she was heiress apparent - and William, Harry and Andrew also get a briefing of what is happening regularly. They can't step up as Counsellors of State if they don't know the background to what is happening.

The Queen would be very remiss in her duty as Queen if she didn't train her successors. We know that William would visit her at Windsor regularly while he was at Eton for discussions and training in his future role as King - to do that means going through what he has to do and that can be done in theory without seeing current papers.

marine2109 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:10:45 PM »

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Kate and William set their sights on a services family

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/201202137218/william-kate-services-family/

Windsor · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:05:37 PM »

Quote from: memememe on February 13, 2012, 08:01:49 PM

Training doesn't mean he has to see the actual papers.

Indeed, quite right. I didn't look at it that way.