The Duke of Cambridge’s new patronage is one very close to his heart.
Prince William, 37, will be the new patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity, which was established in 1989, and provides rapid emergency care around the capital.
William is the perfect man for the job, having worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for 18 months between 2015 and 2017, before stepping down to take on more royal responsibilities on behalf of the Queen.
In his role as patron, William will champion the important work carried out by the charity.
‘His Royal Highness has seen first-hand the impact these first responders have upon the lives of patients with critical injuries,’ read a statement by Kensington Palace released today.
Last year, the father-of-three was patron of the London Air Ambulance’s 30th anniversary campaign for the duration of 2019.
Prince William, 37, has become the patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity after he was the patron of their 30th anniversary campaign in 2019 (pictured at the Royal London Hospital on January 9 2019)
In January 2019, he visited the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where he met with clinicians, paramedics, pilots and crew members and piloted the helicopter the London Air Ambulance kept there on stand-by.
In November of that same year, he attended the charity’s gala, and was hailed ‘one of their own’ by the staff in attendance.
Air Ambulances are a matter close to William’s heart, having worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service (pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Day service in London on Monday)
The 30 Years Saving Lives campaign, which aimed to highlight its vital work delivering lifesaving treatment across London and generate funds for new facilities raised almost £2 million.
The LAAC’s anniversary campaign was also one of the eight charities represented in the King’s Cup Regatta in August 2019.
Jonathan Jenkins, the CEO of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said: ‘We are honoured that The Duke of Cambridge has chosen to become Patron of London’s Air Ambulance charity after getting to know us last year.
‘The Duke truly understands our work and knows that every second counts in an emergency,’ he added.
In his quality of patron, William will champion those on the frontline and will raise awareness for the charity’s important work (pictured flying speaking to an helicopter pilot at Royal London Hospital in January 2019
William attended the charity’s gala in November 2019, were he seemed in great spirits (pictured)
William worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service for eighteen months between 2015 and 2017 (pictured)
‘We know that with his help as well as the continued support of the public, our crews can reach those who need them most – serving the people of London 24 hours a day, every day of the year.’
William took up a position as pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service in July 2015, and worked there until his last shift in 2017.
He left the role – which he started in July 2015 – to spend more time in London when his children started school, and take on more royal duties to support the Queen.
In a statement at the time, issued on his behalf by Kensington Palace, he said it was a ‘privilege’ to fly with the organisation.
The air ambulance charity, which has treated more than 40,000 patients and has attended most major incidents in the capital including 7/7, the London Bridge attacks, and the Croydon tram crash, operates around the clock 365 days a year, serving the city’s 10 million population.
It costs around £10 million each year to deliver the service. The air ambulance, which treated people across the entire south east of England at first, was created in 1989.