The royal response to the coronavirus keeps taking unexpected turns. Prince William is reportedly considering a return to Britain's National Health Service as an air ambulance pilot.
The 37-year-old Duke of Cambridge flew as a pilot for two years with the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity until 2017. Prior to that, he served as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue pilot from 2006 to 2013. It's now being reported by both the Daily Mail and The Sun that at a visit to a 111 call center nearly two weeks ago, William expressed that he missed the work.
Reports indicate that William wants to go back to help with the overwhelming demand for more in the medical field to step up. It's admirable and not a sacrifice that many would make.
That said, it may not be in the best interest of the royal family as a whole. Royal fans are digesting the news and wondering what William's true motivations are.
It's amazing the difference a few weeks make. At the beginning of this month, Prince William received some backlash for his attitude toward the coronavirus during his trip to Ireland. He joked that the media was overhyping the illness and that he and Kate could even be carriers.
Of course, once stay-at-home orders began being issued around the world, he changed his tune. By mid-March, he delivered a message in support of the National Emergencies Trust.
"The public’s desire to help in the wake of tragedy needs to be managed and channeled in the best possible way — which is why the establishment of the National Emergencies Trust was so important," William said.
"The NET has launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities support individuals suffering hardship as a result of the #coronavirus outbreak."
Members of the royal family each went their separate ways to self-isolate. Charles and Camilla went to Birkhall in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip went to Windsor Castle. William and Kate went to Anmer Hall.
Before they left for Anmer Hall, Will and Kate made a visit to a 111 call center. While royal fans thought it was nice for the couple to do something to boost morale for first responders, they questioned their method. Some argued they shouldn't have visited in person, for the safety of everyone involved and because it could be a distraction that increased call times.
William and Kate have been seen as the front lines of the royal family's coronavirus response. Prince Charles continues to take it easy after his positive diagnosis. Queen Elizabeth is reportedly working on a national address. The young royals seem best suited to interface with the public, but William reportedly wants some more intensive involvement.
Both The Sun and the Daily Mail are reporting that William is considering a return to his old gig as an air ambulance pilot. During his visit to the 111 call center, William allegedly expressed a desire to return to the lifesaving work.
"He was asking about how busy we have been, and what shifts everybody was doing," governance lead and call-handler Tracy Pidgeon told The Sun.
"We were saying everybody was working really hard," she continued.
"He misses the helicopter, being on the front line. He just said he misses it."
And a source claimed, "William has been seriously considering returning as an air ambulance pilot to help in the current pandemic."
"He knows the whole country is doing its bit and he wants to help," the source continued. "But it’s complicated as he was originally grounded from the job so that he could become a senior working royal."
Indeed, William even temporarily diverting his attention from The Firm could be a complication they aren't prepared for.
William is third in line to the throne. If anything happened to him, it would bump his 6-year-old son, Prince George, up the line. There's also the precarious situations of those before him to consider. The Queen is at an advanced age. Prince Charles seems to be in decent health, but he is also in his 70s already.
"That role is even more important now given that Charles has been ill, Harry has walked away with Meghan and Andrew has been effectively barred from public life," the source notes.
Harry and Meghan are no longer working senior royals as of April 1. Prince Andrew is reportedly working to do everything he can to return to public life, but the public opinion of him has been irreparably damaged by his ties to disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
"But William is very keen to do anything he can to help."
The source also noted that while the Cambridges live at Anmer Hall, it is a possibility. William lived there while he previously served in the role.
"There are all sorts of practicalities to overcome such as fitting in on shift patterns," they explained. "But he’s in the right place now if he wants to do it."
Royal fans are having mixed reactions to this possibility. Some believe it's a sign of compassion and caring, the kind of feelings you'd want a future king to have. They think he should put his talents to use while royal engagements are on hold.
Others have slammed the thought of this. Some believe that it's a self-serving PR stunt that is meaningless at best and dangerous at worst. Regardless of the motivation behind it, they think monetary support would be more valuable during this time.
This isn't a decision William can enter into lightly. It's unlikely that the Queen would authorize him to do it, even if his heart is in the right place. It's an interesting possibility to mull over, but we have a feeling William will stick this out at Anmer Hall with his wife and children.
