Prince William predicts eldest son has future as RAF pilot
Opening up about how Prince George could follow in his military footsteps and become an RAF pilot.
Prince William thinks his eldest son has the makings of a future RAF pilot.
The 41-year-old royal, who flew as a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue pilot based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, from 2010 to 2013, opened up about his thoughts on 10-year-old Prince George’s possible military path during a garden party he hosted at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday (21.05.24) in the absence of his dad King Charles – who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
During a chat with Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, a padre serving at RAF Coningsby, William said Prince George would love to visit the hub because he was a “potential pilot in the making”, according to Hello!
William’s prediction comes after George appeared thrilled during a surprise visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the summer of 2023.
William and his 42-year-old wife Catherine, Princess of Wales – who is taking a break from public-facing duties as she receives preventative treatment for cancer – took George and their other two children, Princess Charlotte, right, and Prince Louis, five, on a private trip to the world’s largest military air show.
George previously got excited at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2016 at the age of two-and-a-half, where he could already identify parts of planes.
Flight Lieutenant Jim Hobkirk told People at the time: “I imagine his father has told him about helicopters, so he knew what that was called and kept saying, ‘tail rotor.’
“It was good to see his technical knowledge! Some training going on early!”
Both William and Catherine have long-standing and strong connections with the RAF.
The couple each holds a series of RAF-related appointments, and in affiliations announced by King Charles in August 2023, William became Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley, while Catherine was named Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby.
One of Catherine’s grandfathers served in the British air and space force, and reportedly worked with Prince Philip.
Queen Elizabeth’s dad King George VI also earned his wings, according to the RAF Museum, while Prince Harry, 39, served as a helicopter pilot during his decade in the British Army, flying training missions in the US, UK and Australia as well as combat missions in Afghanistan.
