The UK papers were up in arms this weekend because a “critical flaw” in Prince William’s extensive security was revealed. William, as we know, sort of works full-time (something like 32 hours a week) at East Anglia Air Service now. His schedule is supposed to be four days on, four days off, but I think William is already just taking off whenever he feels like it. But it wouldn’t have been too difficult to track his movements for the past few weeks, because at it turns out, the East Anglian Air Service’s fleet is part of the online GPS system that can be monitored, with little cost, on any civilian phone or computer. In layman’s terms, any single person with about $5 can buy an app and track William’s helicopter and the helicopter’s movements from anywhere in England.
Prince William was at the centre of a major security alert last night after The Mail on Sunday discovered that terrorists could use a mobile phone to track his every movement in his new job as an air ambulance pilot. Experts warned of the ‘extraordinary risk’ to the future King presented by a £2.99 app, which gives away precise details of his helicopter’s position, direction of travel, speed and altitude.
Former police officers said the information presented ‘intelligence gold’ for terrorists wishing to track the Prince’s flightpath in an attempt to shoot him down. Astonishingly, subscribers can even opt to receive alerts every time the Prince’s East Anglian Air Ambulance takes off from its base at Cambridge Airport on a 999 rescue mission, relaying real-time flight data from the helicopter’s on-board transponder. The app also reveals where the air ambulance lands.
Although Prince William’s presence on official visits is often publicised in advance, security experts stressed that when he arrives at the scene of an emergency the area will not have been screened in advance. A Mail on Sunday team last week used the app, called flightradar24, to monitor Prince William’s progress as he flew from North Norfolk after attending a road accident. Using the detailed information on the screen, we were able to have a photographer waiting at the precise moment the helicopter came into land at the airport.
Buckingham Palace and the Metropolitan Police, who are tasked with Royal protection, declined to comment when The Mail on Sunday alerted them to the app. But it appeared last night that urgent efforts were being made to remove information relating to the Prince’s air ambulance from flightradar24.
While most commercial and civilian aircraft can be tracked by the app, military and diplomatic flights and private jets do not normally appear for security reasons. But until yesterday evening, detailed information of the Prince’s missions in his air ambulance helicopter, codenamed ‘Anglia Two’, was available every time he took to the skies. The data is also available on the flightradar24 website for free as well as via the app.
The Mail on Sunday went on and on about the threat that this posed to William in particular and I agree – he is a potential target for terrorists and other unsavory types. They do need to find a way to take William’s information in particular off the radar. End of story. It sounds like they’re trying to fix it now, so that’s good news.
Now, all that being said, I have two somewhat minor points. One, how did it not occur to anyone on William’s security team that this was going to be a problem? That’s the huge issue with having such a high-value target taking a “civilian job” – William’s desire to just be one of the blokes (but only when it suits him) puts his own life and the lives of others at great risk, and sometimes I wonder if royal protection officers are sort of half-assing it. Second of all, William and the East Anglian Air Service probably want to keep a tight lid on William’s work schedule for other reasons besides the physical threats – if William’s work ethic with EAAS is anything like it was with the RAF, everyone involved wants to make sure it doesn’t get out just how little work he actually does.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
I think I am a terrible person, my first thought was that this was an excuse for him to not have to work …
Exactly. He can say he tried, and take a 2 year gap study to see what pretend job he wants next.
It’s a ridiculous role given the security issues and just creates a major pain in the ar@se for those having to deal with it. He can find plenty of Other ways to contribute if he’s Interested in providing a service to the Public.
That’s exactly the thing that makes it so very difficult for any royal (or anyone with a need to high-stakes security) – it makes a “normal” life practically impossible and it makes having a regular job like any ordinary person problematic because security concerns can make the whole situation very inconvenient for co-workers.
It is the same when Kate stays with her parents – the security requirements then make life very inconvenient for neighbours and other locals when roads are closed off, etc.
I does seem to me that they don’t even consider how their wishes for “normalcy” impact the lives of a whole lot of people around them. I know it must suck not having the same kind of freedom to just move around like other people but this is an inescapable fact of their life. It will always be like this and that must be accepted. And it would behoove them to consider how many other people’s lives are impacted by their behaviour.
Well said ArtHistorian!
It boils down to just that. Acceptance. And that was said to be a factor for many ladies that refused William. The lifestyle comes with many perks, but many costs. You can’t be half in half out. They are not normal regarding lifestyle. To act like they are puts a heavy burden on people just trying to live their normal lives.
How could that not be anyone’s first thought? My mind went right there
that was my first thought too. He has enough and “leaking” that he can fall victim of this “bad” app gives him the excuse to quit. The perfect opportunity to play the role of his life: victim of the press and circumstances.
I didn’t go there. This could be one of those things that just wasn’t thought about. You know, everyone’s done it. Working on something, checking off all the boxes, and you get so inundated with the details you forget the big one.
If I were Kate I’d be freaked out. Wouldn’t you? Anyone can know where he/they are at any time? I assume the helicopters they use for engagements can be tracked too.
I actually think it’s scary and one of those instances where a fun little app can have some not-so-fun consequences.
My first though too…..I .was waiting for a reason to come out why he couldn’t do this job, knew it had to be a matter of time. I just figured they’d think of a better one than security reasons.
THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Advance reason why AGAIN he won’t be doing anything productive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one figured this out ahead of time? They sound as foolish as our Secret Service.
Too many old farts in these jobs. Someone aged 16 probably would have known right away. (Yah, I’m exaggerating, but General Petraeus used Google mail!)
Agree, this capability should not have been missed in the initial security assessment. Must be embarrassing to having the DM staff identifying your security risks.
Really. If they had an app for tracking this, they should have known that he could be tracked. Duh.
And when will he get it into his thick head that he can’t play dress up helicopter pilot or any other job that isn’t in a secure location??? I’m sorry for him. He didn’t choose this life, I really am. But it is the life he has, just like the poor guy in the slums was born into poverty and poor opportunities. He at least doesn’t have to wonder where his next meal is coming from, so he needs to buck up and accept that this type of job is endangering those around him and that he has to do something where he can be kept safe or abdicate his place in succession and move to a private country home. Or Mustique. But he needs to knock this nonsense off.
Now Kate, she chose this life, so my sympathy for her gilded cage is nonexistent.
Well the technology where the data is coming from is as old as modern aviation. The focus on flightradar24 is stupid. The only thing the owner of this website (and many others btw) does is map this publicly available information (aircraft transponder signals) on Google maps. Everything up in the air sends out a squawk, enthusiasts set up receivers, collect this data and send it to these websites. It being made so readily available was just a matter of time; people have been picking up squawks since way before the interwebs.
Now I do know that Dutch police has a way of not showing up on sites like flightradar24. Same goes for Dutch rescue helicopters, they fall of the “radar” long before they land at the hospital. No clue whether they block the squawk or have some kind of agreement with these websites, but it is possible to be up in the air and not be visible.
They are just figuring this out now? really.
Spoiled childish brat. Can’t someone stand up to him? I am speaking to you, QE!
he’s just awful
Am I the only one who thinks this is going to be the latest excuse? He WANTS to work but the security considerations make it impossible. We can then look forward to another year or two of him trying to decide on a job because the only career he ever wanted has been cruelly snatched away (and yes, I am being sarcastic).
I see Snazzy was posting the same thing at the same time. I guess it isn’t just me after all.
If he uses this as an excuse to quit that job after they bought a new helicopter to accomodate him, I’m going to lose it. Oh wait I’ve already lost it.
Well, it turned out they wanted the helicopter and may have given William a position just so they could get it. If they could get rid of William while keeping the helicopter, it may be a win win for them. Maybe they sent the story in to the DM!
If he quits his job, they will get to keep the helicopter. And William will get to take another gap year, that’s really 22 or 23 months, to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Because as we all know theres really no such thing as full time royal duties. Poor William.
What’s to keep someone from staging a fake emergency to lure him in even if they do get him off the app? And a helicopter is a vulnerable target anyway. Not much thought in advance on this, methinks!
We were smart enough to figure it out, you know the security detail was too. But William pouted, publicly announced it, and dug in his heels until he got what he wanted. Now his presence is endangering the patients and his co-workers. Millions wasted on the ManChild. Again.
If we were smart enough obviously the security detail did too? Apparently they didn’t. And I don’t buy that William did that despite knowing about this. Not for one minute.
We discussed how easy it would be to track his movements out of Anmer to the airport. From the publicly-accessible base to wherever accidents were. That someone could fake an accident as part of an attack. That anyone would know William was involved if the larger helicopter was used.
We didn’t even mention an app that most of us probably didn’t know existed. This is just one more part of the larger discussion as to why this job was a lousy idea.
I just can’t buy that security missed it. Those apps are ten-a-penny – we all use the web versions to track commercial flights when we need to pick up relatives from the airport, for example. I mean, they aren’t little-known utilities. They’re popular! I’m inclined to agree that William must’ve roughshod over it or something. And there’s some bitchery on the part of the Fail for outing it.
Honestly – the security surrounding Billy isn’t carried out by the Keystone Cops.
The possibility of tracking William of faking an emergency to meet him was considered openly from the start. This was no secret and even joked about.
Maybe next time he wants a job like this he can avoid the press conferences and pr news releases. He could just apply, train, and begin. Less attention would be brought and he could just do the job. At least better than he can making it front page news and having pr releases about his status.
@ bluhare
If security knew and briefed William, then what? Would they have been able to force William not to take this ‘job?’ I think not. All they can do is inform him. They can’t physically prevent him from leaving AH and going to the airport and getting on the copter.
And powerless to do anything to stop William, they can inform the rest of the BRF to try to get them to dissuade William from this job but again, would the BRF be able to stop William? Nope.
@ notasugar
I agree with you. They told him. He probably responded with ‘That’s your problem, not mine. Work harder protecting me then, because I’m not going to give up this ‘job.”
I know what you all are saying; I do. But thinking about something and dealing with it — especially when the DM tells anyone who never thought about it that they now can — may not have crossed anyone’s mind. I also didn’t imply that they’re surrounded by the Keystone Cops either, Sixer! Dad’s Army, more like.
@ bluhare
According to the DM article linked above:
“While most commercial and civilian aircraft can be tracked by the app, military and diplomatic flights and private jets do not normally appear for security reasons.”
Governments have known about public trackers. That’s why you can’t track such planes as Air Force One.
The BRF have for decades rode in private planes, copters, yachts, cars, etc. So the security agencies have learned to deal with new possible threats as new technology is created.
I have no doubt that the UK’s security agencies knew that William’s EAAA copter did not fall under the tracker-restriction which his military copters had when he was in the Air Force.
I think that the security and the BRF had no power to stop William physically from taking this job.
There’s lot’s of “sure” and “no doubt” here, but bottom line is you really don’t know that they absolutely knew. I think they didn’t realize for whatever reason. They may have thought those things fall under the exemption. I don’t know either, but I’m not so quick to place blame on William as everyone else here.
Bluhare – wasn’t directing that at you, sorry! More just um… I dunno, open-mouthed at it all.
I can’t believe they didn’t realise. All of this stuff is constantly evaluated by anti-terror people, and not just for the royals. Our threat level is still at severe, as it has been for some time.
Either they assessed it and found workarounds (that they’re not about to tell us about else they wouldn’t be solutions) or they assessed it and William overruled them, you know? That it didn’t occur to them defies credibility, I think.
What’s more interesting to me is why the Fail decided to do a hysteria story on it. Because whatever happened, it’s an anti-royal story, isn’t it? If there’s some protection solution we don’t know about, then they may well have compromised it. And if William overrode security recommendations, then they’ve just basically outed him while pretending to be concerned, right?
Concern trolling by the Fail? Or what?
Bluhare
I’m with you to a point. I doubt William considered this. I doubt he wants to quit his job right now and will not use this as an excuse.
I do think it’s sloppy of his security team to have overlooked this. Many here stated it as a risk immediately. Maybe it is as you said. They were too focused on checking off all the boxes the obvious got overlooked.
This is happening though. It is a risk. So, they didn’t consider it before. Ok. It does need to be addressed now. Unfortunately his presence could turn a routine air ambulance in civilian territory into combat medics evacuating with the threat of attack should anyone want to get at William.
The odds imo are low, but it would be foolish to dismiss this as a real threat. I hope his take away from this isn’t poor William can’t be normal, but rather he has a role. A role important enough for people to be after him. A role he should accept. Or he could step aside and be a heli copilot. He could live his wish.
I’m floored that this didn’t fall into the security file considering WK had a security hissy fit about people flying over Anmer Hall.
Mind you, the security is only as good as the information it’s given or aware of, so perhaps no one thought of this.
It wouldn’t be the first time. Gaps in security have allowed people to walk into HM’s bedroom at BP on a few (?) occasions…..
…..but it’s also easy to imagine William stomping his feet and insisting when he is informed about it or the other possibility that the heli can’t be made invisible because EAAA is a public company, a charity and perhaps their operations require them to be public?
Then there is the DM maliciously marking X in the security wall. Like they gleefully sent their readers to a German website that posted the full, uncensored pictures of every single time Kate has flashed us whilst pretending outrage that such a thing had happened.
All scenerios that you ladies have posted are simultaneously possible.
Kate and William both look so tan. Does anyone believe William hasn’t been back to Kenya since 2010?
Every time they look uncommonly tanned during the summer, that’s my thought too. Especially if it’s William looking so tanned.
I’m thinking this one is more a South of France tan, but yeah there’s definitely some secret vacationing going on.
There is a suggestion online that the Middleton family takes two Mustique breaks, but we’re just used to the January one. They’re also known for taking one July/August.
Hasn’t Britain been off and on warm? It has been if the DM stories are any indication.
Or they have tanning beds?
They probably have a tanning room at AH, and not for leather. Well unless you think about what their skin will look like in 20 years.
@ FLORC
Maybe the tanning beds are next to the Karaoke Room? Or in a cabana next to the pool they moved?
😀
Great minds, anne!!
Lol!! 😉
I remember there were rumors that during the girlfriend years, Kate and Pippa used tanning beds but I think Kate just uses spray tan now -going by that article with that spray tan technician (?) when Kate was pregnant with George. Their tans in these pictures are slightly red and sunburnt and more like actual sun tans.
You ladies!
I thought it was stated they had a tanning room attached to the gym with massage room. Though, their tans look beach made.
@ bluhare
Yup! 😀
I read an article in the Telegraph that claims Kate is now an advanced diver and that she probably took the qualification course in Mustique. So, maybe that’s why they look tanned.
To be honest, as sad as it is, and I am not one to ‘give in’ to risks of terrorists and let them win, but this is why he probably IMO should not be doing this job. It’s just not worth it – he’s got two children now and it’s such a safety risk for himself and equally the rest of the crew on board. It just makes him more of a target. I know you shouldn’t change your life around risks but for me personally it just seems so dangerous. I think this is one of the biggest sacrifices the royal family makes (and it is a sacrifice) because they ARE at greater risk than ordinary folks. I’ve said in the past that William should be working but this particular job/role just doesn’t sound like a great idea to me. At the end of the day, safety first!
Even if the threat of terrorism wasn’t a consideration why choose this career? Does he just like to fly helicopters? Doesn’t he have his own to fly? Why put everyone else out because he wants to play helicopter?
imagine how the families of his co-workers feel? William is a special target. It isn´t his fault, he is born who he is. But he also knows he needs security. Some of his family members survived attacks in the past. Like when this psycho guy tried to kidnap Princess Anne. Her bodyguard got shot while saving Anne´s life. Such things can happen with William too. He is one of the most famous family members today, so he is the perfect target.
William isn´t alone in the helicopter. The pilot, the medic etc. all live at greater risk now.
He abuses his helicopter priviledges anyway.
Is this how so many of the public have been able to pap him and post to social media?
Pretty sure we all discussed the security concerns, ability to track him, and how he would be endangering the patients and his co-workers – over a year ago when this ridiculous move was first suggested.
This honestly was my first thought when I heard about Prince William’s job. I live in the U.S. and the lady across the street listens to first-responders on her short-wave radio all day long. She follows all the accidents, fires, etc. The radio is in her kitchen and she leaves it on all the time. Why wouldn’t it be the same in the U.K.?
So, it baffles me that Prince William could hold a job that could be tracked by even an elderly person from her kitchen.
Depending on state you can listen to that information, but not broadcast it or repeat it outside your home. A little technical point to avoid things like this. Not sure about the UK. Even so, those apps to track flights already existed for some time. This was used and known technology.
I read he isn’t the only one who’s movements can be tracked. Someone said they had the app and tracked the Queen’s helo leaving Norfolk yesterday. And it’s not as if you need the app to know when Big Willy will be in the air. They only use that big one when he’s on duty.
I think he’ll use this excuse to quit working, and it’s not as if he’s really working a lot of hours to begin with. I think LAK broke it down and he’ll be working 2/3rds of his 4 day rota.
He’s a co-pilot because he doesn’t have the flying hours to be a full pilot. East Anglia basically bought the chopper so William could have a ‘job’. He’s taking up the space reserved on the chopper for a relative to accompany a seriously sick patient to hospital. As LAK pointed out on an earlier thread he works far less than the hours publicised. Do I care that a terrorist may blow him out of the sky? Put it this way I care enormously that the pilot, the patient, the ground crew, the hospital staff may all be put at risk while this total tosser indulges himself in a ‘job’ designed to make him look good, caring and responsible when it’s clear he’s a self-serving spoiled brat who is hopelessly indulged by those around him.
Amen!
But you don’t really hope he gets blown out of the sky do you? Even if he’s on his own? Which he won’t be because he doesn’t have enough hours . . . but you know what I mean I hope.
I take all of you guys’ points that this was a bad idea. But this goes a bit beyond a bad idea.
Bluhare
I agree with the points you agree with though not sure anyone actually wants him attacked 😀
And your whole comment made me laugh! Especially the not enough hours part 🙂
He could take a desk job. Do radio dispatch.
Ha! I wonder if he kept that “Big Willy” mug from his military job. It would look nice on his desk.
Good idea. Useful and far safer, I would think, for all involved.
Unfortunately I don’t think it’s about helping people as much as it is flying a helicopter.
Shame too.
I don’t think it is about flying a helicopter. I think it is about having an excuse not to work full-time at anything but avoiding full-time work.
Yes, FLORC, I think you’re right on that.
Maybe a mix of both Nota.
If it was about flying a helicopter, he could do what was suggested last year – fly the two of them to their engagements that require a helicopter. Start visiting outside the Home Counties if that is the excuse they need. Oh look, how dashing, he arrives with his wife – and he’s flying the helicopter!
It isn’t about flying a helicopter. It is about running away.
What a terrible blow to the PR run-up of his everyman’s persona. Wasn’t it just last week that we were looking at his back to school pictures? Ooops. I mean first day at work pictures?
What this app business reveals, like everyone else has said, is that a place was made for William instead of this being a planned and seamless incorporation of his presence on the medical teams. Had it been planned & vetted then stuff like this would have come up in work session.
What a crushing blow. I guess he’ll have to go back to dressing in wigs and glasses and doing charity work in disguise, as not to bring attention to himself. But surely there has to be some way he can continue to fly under the radar of dodging royal duties to create some personal and professional happiness for himself.
Personally, I wish the poor sap some luck with this. Hahahaha.
He could always complete his hours to get his license, then become a private pilot for someone. Then he can do what he loves – flying helicopters, and still remain under the radar (or off the radar in this case).
I know they’re pulling faces, but neither Kate nor Will look early 30s in the picture at the top. More like early 40s. Vacations must be really aging.
I agree.
I’ll probably get scorned for this, but Kate could do with just a teeny bit of filler in her top lip – it’s almost disappeared and makes her look harsh. A thinning lip happens naturally as you get older but I wouldn’t expect it to look so pronounced on someone in their early 30s … even if she wore a bit of plumping lipstick it might make her look softer.
I hate the jeggings – especially how they cut her leg off at 7/8. Ugh.
She isn’t aging well at all.
I can’t even begin to fathom the underlying shenanigans behind all this – the job, the helo, the Daily Mail’s doomsday scenarios – but I absolutely refuse to credit that the flight tracking stuff hadn’t been considered by the security bods. That’s just nonsense.
I too think security knew about the possibilities of his copter being tracked and had briefed William, but he wasn’t about to let go of this ‘job.’
“Who gonna check me boo?”
Anne_OOO, sadly you are probably right. It is dangerous and stupidly risky, and yet apparently what he wants, he gets.
Bwaahaa! RHOA! @anne_000, I used to love that show!
In which case, as I said above, does the Fail realise that? And are pointing it out to stick it to him?
Sixer: I think you are right. DM is using the same method they employed to show their readers Kate’s flashing pictures without having to print them.
@ Sixer
I think it was obvious to anybody who knows about flight-tracking apps that one can easily track William now that he’s flying non-diplomatic civilian/commercial copters instead of military ones (which are exempt from public tracking).
We also know that he’s flying the big copter, because that was (allegedly) bought to accommodate him and his RPO. So people who want to track him would know which particular copter to follow.
I think what the DM did was the obvious. Anybody with any interest in William could have done this. It’s not like they used a secret, little known tracking app. Apparently millions of people already use various tracker apps and other online tracking sites.
What was the DM’s motive in publishing this article? Sensationalism? More reader clicks? Wanting to know why William, in his quest to appear normal/middle class eschews the regular level of security the BRF has?
Remember when the DM published that photo (taken by a fellow passenger) of William and his RPO in the ‘cattle class’ section on a Ryanair flight? (July 2, 2015)
Anybody could have tracked that plane whether by apps or just by looking or calling up to see where its final destination was. And the fact that cattle class is generally not a secure section, there could have been an opportunity to attack him. I doubt security searched that plane before he got on, as the Secret Service would have done if President Obama had gotten onto the same plane.
I think William is bucking the system, including the security system set in place.
I think this is the big news, the crux of the matter. I think that these two DM articles are leading up to an outright question on how loose William is making his security protection in his quest to appear ‘normal’ so as not to have to do full-time duties and why he’s making these unnecessary choices.
LAK, Anne
You know, I keep saying that at some point, the dam will break and there will be a press pile-on for William. And it won’t be pretty.
I just wonder if we’re beginning to see some cracks in that dam?
I think the DM is sticking it to William (and I’m not unhappy about it).
Fact is, as a few people have commented, it’s the lives of others that he puts at risk with his pigheadedness. That is insupportable. It would be a public service if the DM pointed that out, and the fact that he makes of lives of others abnormal in his quest for fairy tale “normalcy”. He’s such a selfish pig.
Sixeer
I think so. It’s far too passive aggressive lately. Even the praise/fluff is pretty darn snarky. You can only patch up so many cracks with baby pictures…
My guess is this PA game will continue until someone snaps. Then others will follow.
Question to anyone who would know.. Is it an actual contract the press are to give William room and can’t report on his negative actions? Or is this just an agreement to not run those stories?
Sure, this should have been examined ahead of time and perhaps it was and perhaps it was thought it wouldn’t be an issue. And it is. But I can’t get with some of this “William should have known” stuff.
The lack of sympathy is a bit disconcerting too. Sorry, but I’m not with you guys on slagging him over it. He’s now facing the reality of what he wanted to to do, and it’s seriously scary. He’s got a couple of kids. His RPO probably has a family, as well as the crew and as well as the passenger. What a level of responsibility he must feel. I would, and I’m not going to “neener” him over it.
Perhaps it puts some good light on the fact that rescue and public safety type aircraft should have jamming frequencies as is with the military aircraft.
Bluhare
Where the slip up was it happened and what is important is how they move forward regarding security.
In a way I feel for William. This is something he wanted to do and he’s realising (maybe) that he can’t do what he wants to. There’s too great a risk involved.
I’m repeating myself, but just 1 more time…
He needs to choose. Like many people do. If this is his calling and he wants it he can remove the risk he brings. He can abdicate. Short of that security will forever be a great concern. And he will be a potential target.
If I was famous and the world knew where I worked I bet people would be faking sick and scheduling appointments to cross my path. It would clutter my place of business and my presence would be a burden on my coworkers. And I likely wouldn’t need that job to get by.
That’s kind of William. And the weight of this choice he has to make. A revelation. It won’t be anything close to easy, but it must be made.
I’m not blaming William. As the cards lay now he is at a cross roads.
The thing is, couldn’t William have continued to fly undisturbed if he had stayed in the RAF? He would have had to move to Scotland but that’s part of normal military life-if William wants to be normal, being stationed wherever the RAF chooses is part of it. Didn’t he get special treatment by being let out of his contract?
He chose to leave, so no sympathy from me. He wants to fly but he also wanted to live at Anmer Hall and that’s on him.
Natalie
I think he left because S&R was privatized. His hand was sort of forced.
Perhaps he couldn’t have done S&R anymore but he would have still been allowed to fly. His fellow RAF pilots were transferred to other bases and William could have also transferred.
He left SAR at least two years before privatization, as it wasn’t happening until sometime in 2015. He could have stayed, worked out his term, and then transferred to another base like some other pilots did before the changeover. He chose to leave 2 years early and default on the contract.
From the BBC story about the announcement, March 2013
“There will continue to be an RAF base at Valley, Anglesey, but the SAR unit will be in Caernarfon. The new service run by Bristow will be fully rolled out by summer 2017.
RAF and Royal Navy Personnel currently involved in search and rescue could be transferred to other jobs in the military when Bristow take over, said BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.
However, under a programme of “managed transition” military pilots and crew will be able to apply to leave their service and take a job, if offered, with the private contractor.”
He could have hired on with Bristow and stayed at SAR in Caernarfon. IF they’d wanted him. Perhaps that was the problem. Too much info about how little he really worked SAR was bandied about.
Is William really even a target from a security standpoint? I don’t see it, sorry. Who really cares about him?
Diana’s refusal of security cost dearly. You’d think that William would listen to these folks about safety..
…and all I can think of whenever I see a picture of him is how un-hot he looks; what happened there??? he’s a young man and looks like a very tired 50 something guy…
And is that a bit of a paunch I see before me? Ha! Must be all of that cheese toast fed him by Mummy Carole.
Right??? What a shame, also!! He was absolutely beautiful in his early 20s, looked just like Diana. Now, he has a longer face, and is kind of horsey looking. (I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be cruel, he just does look kind of horsey to me, there’s no other way around it.)
The sycophants on other sites NEVER mention how unattractive he’s gotten.
It does not matter if they remove the info from the app. The flights can still be tracked through various police bands, etc. If there is a big gap in the data, that is also a sign that that gap indicates William. The absence of data indicating that something is going on there, etc.
+1
They could always use that particular aircraft randomly every day, so that no one is sure which flight he’s actually on. If they only send it out when he’s working, then that’s a huge red flag, but if it goes out everyday, then it helps a little more with security, I’d think.
That also means that his co-workers and the patients are at risk from attack, whether or not he is in the helicopter.
I know I am stating the obvious but i can’t help myself: the fact that Williamis the first born and not Harry is a huge blow for the instution of monarchy. And then maybe the Queen could have had an easier schedule.
Imaginary Prince H: I say, Cressida 2, I mean, Romina, sorry my dear, we have been through so much! But, I say, you marvelous wasp-waisted slinky sloe-eyed genius! How ever did you manage it? I click on this clever “Move Yer Bloomin’ Ass, Willy!” app you’ve come up with, and by god, I can see that lovely puking cashmere-swaddled sheep’s grunt of a brother of mine right here on the screen, a tiny green pound sign icon, moving to and then from an empty helio rooftop pad, then out the building, into a car, right down onto the Kings Road, and then he gets out and into —
Imaginary Cressida 2/Romina: oh, no, no, luxuriously muscled Ginger Happy Meal of holy vision-type satisfaction of jesus, we should not be looking at such things!
iPH: It’s all right, my delicate caring dear, I know you felt funny about doing this work for Aunt Anne, but, look, he just popped into Waterstones. Probably picking up another few copies of Junor’s The Man Who Will Be King to set afire. Oh, there he moves on to John Sandoe – you know old Baldtop’s having a commemorative album of photos celebrating himself in his two-hairbrush days printed in 24K black gold ink, thinks each time he opens his godawful braying wood-gnawing yap to smile for the paps, the world loves him and will toss down fifty quid for a peek! Well, anyway, jolly you, now we’ll be able to find out what he really does instead of flying birds and Firm appearances! Aunt Anne’s bet is on video dance games with Putin, and of course, those chest-waxes performed during coconut-scented twilight sleep in Chelsea.
iC2/R: No, no, I mean to being say to you, oh my savior, Sir of the most strange and secret butterscotch two a.m. mouth music of divinity, that we must not yet look at this, because app, it have to being a big bug! Starstruck or the Sunshine press peoples can be to use it! I analyze, and see bad thing! App is to being hacked by very bad people using name “Partymomamous” and “Bealeaks” and “Jeccasnatch” which I think be to giving secrets of Sir Mister Baldtop! I must close holes! I make app only for you, being kingdom’s most hard-rumped, duty-sculpted man-angel of the peoples with thighs so hot, can cook a game hen in one squeeze! Is not for others, is wrong!
iPH: Well, yes, but if the old tum-wobbling MailBog fellows on Sunday can toss up this one nugget to remind my bro that mulish shyness to his duties is now recordable, it’s for the best, eh? Because if Gran’s men sniff him out, she’ll have him taken from the Tower and clapped in a Welsh cottage mowing for eternity while Kitty goes uber-bonkers trying to use a Gucci shoe to burrow out to old Mrs. Bennett’s, what? So, let him have a chance for amends, poor old sod, never too bright, was he, let him have a last good think about the world watching — and then, if the app shows him still veering away from charity, like a lurcher runs from a bath, well, I then, I shall listen to Aunt Anne and proceed with Project Imminent Heir Loss. I say, my darling limber brilliant and brave Girl From S.N.U.G.G.L.E., how have you gotten on with Kitty’s app?
iC2/R: I be to try, oh hot gushing timberwood of passion’s noble glow-making joy-twirl, but is being such great problem! – her so many bankcards, giant metallic black linings of eyes of her, extra large size ring and also, metal-plate wedges being in shoes and somewhere by head, is to be causing block of all signals up to Gingerlacttica Satellite.
iPH: Oh, blast and damn. Now what?
iC2/R: So, insteads, we be to tying small bell to back of her giant extended hairs, which trained dog in tracking vest is to be follow. I also be to burner call this other international Maria nanny at Anmerfawlty, and she say to me, with big loud slap of one fist into her other nanny hand, and a great laugh like unregistered cruise ship hitting small dinghy off Calcutta, she say, yes, she happy use tracking diaper bag as back-up, and she say also to me, “Tell old Ginger, sign me up! No one makes me wear ugly scratchy uniform and raise up loud angry boy baby in window for a paps walk, like I being extra in Evita, and then, call me “Mooksie” and “bloody You”! I have my pride, and holy blessed cross around my neck, and my top nanny contract, and my tiny pocket-size hundred-hour recorder, don’t I? I’ll get that steamin’ pair of cheddars yet, I will! I vow allegiance to the delectable Ginger Scamp, tell his nibs I am there for him and I only wish I had access to his onesie, what ho!” So, we have that too, holy Sir.
iPH: …..Romina, you are…..exquisite. If only you were here, right now, next to me in this rhino bunker…
LOL!! Do you have these saved somewhere? If you don’t I may have to go looking and do a compilation.
Haha, yes, I do after a friend insisted 😉
oh dear I read it as ‘coconut scented twilight SHEEP in Chelsea’ – no I’m not entirely illiterate, I could barely see the screen for laughing!
Ha ha, You must be having Monday fantasies of sexy sheep-shouldered ruffians at your desk!
Yea Gods, I even read that as ‘sheep shagging ruffians’ I think I must be hallucinating and it’s all your fault.. 🙂
LOL. Thighs so hot they cook chicken. 🙂
“What am I to you, sir, just a sheep to shag?” lovely frisbeejada panted eagerly to him, tossing her mane of hair whilst simultaneously giving her office bustier a good yank south. “Just a coconut-scented twilight shag sheep, about whom you see nothing, not my humanity, not my mind, just my plum ripe ready-to-be-sheeped shaggerliness?”
“No, never!” snarled Lord Ben “Yachtsie” Boatrider Ablehe, wounded to the core of his massive iron-hard chest. “Haven’t I had a bad enough weekend with cancelled yacht events and pesky guests slipping quite naughty notes in my pocket,, without you taunting me about my massive curly-furred heavily muscled love-shoulders? I am human too! Now I must get back to arranging these event flags –”
“Oh!” gasped frisbeejada. “Yes! Yes! Arrange an event shag with me!”
I’m picturing this painted in Woad and wearing me metal breastplate at which point “Lord Ben whips out his Angle Grinder snarling with suppressed emotion before declaring ‘sod the bloody event flags my sheep scented symphony of lusty wench – albeit in a rather unfortunate canned outfit – I need you out of that metal bustier NOW” – he shouts heaving with barely contained lust, “I’ve just spent a day with a gormless cow whining about everybody spinning her round to read her back so they could work out who she was and I JUST CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE…” pausing for breath he husks in his poshly posh voice so imbued with received pronunciation he nearly strangles on his own epiglottis..”But I can take you – bend over me dearie while I get me tool out and get on the job…” sigh it’s so romantic….
Freesbejada and Liberty: I haven’t had such a good laugh since I was 14yrs old and just discovered my older sister’s stash of Mills + Boon/Harlequin/anything by Barbara Cartland.
Do carry on….. 🙂
Flushed and panting, frisbeejada swatted weakly with her delicate ringed hands at her insistent paramour. “Oh – oh — you great big Dorset Horn!” she gasped. “Do be careful with my bustier, what was forged for me by the palace’s own silversmith Old Matthew to me very curves, on a windswept Balmoral night! Oh, sod the lock on this thing, take me anyhoo, you scrumptious Sunday chop!!” But Lord Ben “Yachtsie” Ableho seemed not to hear her, as he suddenly paused, and unbent the flexibly sultry beauty. “No, no, this isn’t right!” he cried, stepping away and dramatically passing a great sailor’s fist over his eyes. “Our love is greater than this, a rampant moment of mindless heat in a Portsmouth buoy shed!”
“Oi! Benny! Yah it is! But that’s okay! Pretend I’m your fresh tender saddle’o’lamb, you lusty hogget! Look! I’ve a mint sprig in me hair!” But the lean, muscled sea lord shook his flawlessly coiffed head, his chiseled jaw firm. “No! Tis workin’ hours, tempting wench, and I have me staff to think of!” “Oi,” growled frisbeejada, “aye, and I’m thinkin’ of yer fine sheep-staff too, ain’t I!” The rock-bodied yachting lord swiveled back to her, mesmerized, his eyes piercing hers. “You — you lovely— from now on I shall be callin’ you my Friskeejada! Mind the rope! I say, wench, sod the workday, come here and — shear me!”
I love you, Liberty. That is all.
* blows kisses back *
Project Imminent Heir Loss.
ROFLMAO, that is just priceless!!! Liberty, you must be Irish, because you have quite the knack for storytelling, and please don’t ever stop. Bravo.
Good God. Technology will be the death of us all. William isn’t the only one in danger. guess all responders are.
Yes, some aspects of it are dreadful.
BeckyR
With motive yes. There’s an increased threat. Tracking is a double edge. It can be opening up to locations and tracking people for nefarious reasons, but also used for safety. IMO more for safety.There will always be a balance between good and bad. It comes down to intent imo.
I’ve seen tracking through electronics used for so much good and barely anything bad.
Responders have a far greater threat to harm them in their line of work. Drivers who are not paying attention or faulty equipment.
I have thought about this for a while. We can all be tracked, but in William’s case, where he would be a prime catch for terrorists, they really really need to be better than this. How many people in the world know the Prime Minister of England’s name?? How many know William’s?? This is amateur hour stuff, having him fly around in a helicopter (a very easy target) and now the ability to track him. They need to do better than this.
At least with Harry, there is really very little info getting out about where he is flying, with whom, what times? His indirect line to the throne protects him a bit. William, Kate, Charles, Camilla, the Queen, are all at greater risk, and this is a huge lapse in his security.
His movements are accessible anyway whether flying the helicopter or not. So should he live his life in a closet? I’m sure this was addressed prior to his starting this job and all are aware. Hes really not a threat to anyone.
Firebomber
It’s not about him being a threat. It’s about threats that could happen to him and possibly to those near him.
And we can’t know if his security knew this. They could have missed it easily by just an overlook. It can’t be denied. It’s a vulnerable position he puts himself in. Other royals have been the subjects of attacks, kidnapping, ransom, stalking plots. That’s why he still has security. If he wasn’t possibly a potential target there would be no need for an RPO on the craft with him.
And his movements are not that accessible. Not as much as you would think. Yes we see him at events and flying. Outside of that we don’t usually know. Remember during his bespoke program? He was not known to be on vacation hunting. That was outed. The french chateau? Outed as they were suppose to stay for the paralympics. Along with numerous times since his marriage. We might find out after he returns, but he has and is able to sneek away anywhere.
IMO a closet seems extreme. He has a palace! (Kidding!) Really though. William leads a life and holds a position where he can’t really live this way. This is what is so unappealing about marriage to William for many. You are well compensated, but do give up certain aspects of life to fill a role. He can have this life. He just has to give up a position that allows for PR interviews before he starts his job along with updates on status. That’s hardly normal.
IF he truly wants to be a pilot and live that quiet country life best of luck to him. He has funds of his own. Can live in AH with his children. And all this being discussed won’t be of issue. IF he wants this he only has to take it.
If someone were really that interested in kidnapping him or killing him they could do it. He’s not a threat to anyone. There are others that would be a more likely candidate. I think the press are simply trying to make something out of nothing. The prime minister, the queen or Charles would be more of a target than William.
Someone tried to kidnap Princess Anne at one point, when she was second-in-line to the throne. He is high-profile, he is a kidnap risk.
Exactly Nota
Firebomber
I think you’ve overlooked my point. And it’s not at all about William beng a threat. It’s not like he’s a dictator and a real threat to anyone.
And no. If someone wanted him dead it wouldn’t be as simple as your comment suggests.
He is high profile and in a family that has extreme wealth. That places a target on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a threat or not. You have a target on your back. Not sure how else to phrase this.
Because you disagree with his value in a situation like ransom doesn’t mean others aren’t thinking that way. Even Harry was risking his life when going to serve in the military. A terrorist group made an open statement if they saw Harry they were going to kidnap him or kill him. This came out and Harry had to leave his team. His presence made the group as a whole a target by association. He hated doing it, but left because the safety of the troops was paramount to his desire to serve by them.
Royalty is a target. I don’t like it, but it is. If what you’re saying was true the BRF wouldn’t need all the security they have because there would be a minimal risk of someone going after them. And history has proven that is far from the case.
As others have said this will be the excuse when he gets bored with it – its only a hobby job for him anyway, something to do when he feels like it.
When he does leave and the inevitable excuses from him and his PR start it will inevitably feed the obvious resentment that he has for his royal role and family. I think he will walk away from the throne, it’ll probably take a few more years of this behaviour and a few more hobby jobs/gaps years before he gets to the point where he chucks it in – something that he has done throughout his life. When the going gets tough – he walks/runs away. This path he’s on won’t end well for him, his family and the Monarchy. Crunch time will come when TQ passes – regardless of what Kate and Carole want (and they want the Throne) he’ll walk away and take his kids out of the line of succession with him. Wonder how long his marriage will last if that happens?
As for the app – i suspect that the security study wasn’t complete when he ‘announced’ the job and did it as he knew that the app would have been used to refuse to allow him to do it. This childish, short sighted stupidity will bite him on the ass one of these days. That they haven’t yet blocked him movements is shocking on their parts considering it can be done.
Betti
If William walks away it’s open season on him in the press. Everything will be unleashed. On top of a lot more. I doubt he would ever do that.
When he speaks of his role he speaks like it’s a massive burden he has no intention of dealing with. He could step up in time, but I don’t see that happening. He will be a reluctant King.
To somewhat recent history that was King George VI, but there was purpose to his reign. A war and very low national moral. Things he had to tackle. As not great as things are currently in the UK the issues can be ignored by a monarch. My suspicion is William will coast by. It will be interesting to see what name he chooses too!
FLORC. It will be open season on him regardless – as someone else said up thread the press are gearing up to turn on him and it won’t be pretty. He’s baiting them – the British tabloids are not ones who liked to be baited, particularly by Royalty. He’s losing the respect of the people and if the press think there won’t be a public outcry then they will let loose.
I firmly believe he will walk away – he’s never really stuck at anything in his life. Everything he does is half arsed. He almost walked from Uni and only stayed when he switched courses to an easier subject at the behest of his father and lets face it Kate probably helped him with his coursework – she reportedly took notes for him (meaning she went to his classes). I suppose if he does take the Throne he can pass the running of the gov to his MIL – jk.
Yes his choice of name will be interesting – he may decided to stick with William but who knows, he’s likely to choose something new. Maybe we can have a book of which name he’ll choose. I’ll start with King Basil the first of his name (it means royal/King but i prefer the Faulty Towers link).
Betti
I’ve never been able to settle on 1 possible name. My best guess list is over a dozen and I doubt I could list them without wanting to make a case as to why.
Mostly stuck between what would be more accurate to his rule vs. What I think he would pick for himself.
I remember those Kate taking notes for William stories. They were originally out as William skips class/uses Kate to take notes while he’s off. To… Kate helps William study. They fall in love over tutoring.
And I do think he will not abdicate. This isn’t a job he can really fail at and be removed. Not in these days. There will always be others to make the choices and cover up the mistakes. Others to be educated. William only had to be born into the right family. If anything relating to how he gives up rather than try it’s this. He won’t work. Those duties only the monarch can/should carry out will be done so at his leisure or done so with a stubborn attitude and dragging feet.
He could change it all around though… Got to wait this one out.
I always thought Harry was bringing special danger to his military unit also, much more so than William in the current instance.
It would be much more difficult to pinpoint which helicopter Harry was in in Afghanistan.
The William situation is much more dangerous for everyone. Whether he is in the bigger helicopter, or if they send the bigger helicopter out on calls when he isn’t working as a diversion, that helicopter is still the only one flying around the accident. One bright yellow helicopter flying from an accident to a hospital is not difficult to find.
Well, my first thought was, “that is such a cool app! I mean, I live near an airbase anyway, but still cool.” Then, I thought: Maybe only civilian aircraft should be tracked? But then I remembered MH17 and, gosh, we don’t need another MH17 to happen! Now it’s just a horrifying thought…
I swear to God terrorists ruin the fun for everyone!