This week, we’re celebrating the amazing and vital work of the emergency services.
Not only is today Emergency Services Day but this whole week is Air Ambulance Week and the Royal Family have been one of the first to recognise the incredible life-saving work these services provide across the UK.
The Duke of Cambridge marked the start of Air Ambulance Week with an open letter (see below) written to the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities thanking all who work, volunteer and support them in their tireless efforts.
Here are some facts you may not have know about the Royal Family and their connection to the emergency services…
– The Duke of Cambridge is Patron of London Air Ambulance, The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of Cornwall Air Ambulance and The Countess of Wessex is Patron of Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
– The Duke of Cambridge worked as an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance between March 2015 and July 2017, where he flew Helicopter Emergency Medical Service missions.
– Prince William holds his Airline Transport Pilot Licence (H), this involved a total of 14 written exams on a range of aviation topics including the Principles of Flight, Navigation, Flight Planning and Air Law, and an Airborne Skills Test.
– While working for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, the salary The Duke of Cambridge earned was donated to charity in full.
– The Countess of Wessex in fact required the services of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance back in December 2001, after she suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
🚑 🚒 🚨 To mark #EmergencyServicesDay, we are sharing Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s reading of his work ‘The Omnipresent’.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 9, 2020
The poem forms part of @SouthbankCentre’s ‘Everyday Heroes’ exhibition which celebrates the contributions of frontline staff during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/WKR0maXEDn
🚑 🚒 🚨 A huge 'Thank you' to all emergency services staff for your vital work. #EmergencyServicesDay #EmergencyServicesDay2020 pic.twitter.com/ayWDmVgYOK
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 9, 2020
