Prince William has granted air ambulances permission to land and refuel at Kensington Palace during the current pandemic.
- Prince William has given air ambulances permission to land and take off from Perks Field - the usual landing site for Royal Family helicopters
- The move could save lives as it means paramedics will no longer waste time flying back to base in Watford
- The Duke of Cambridge is patron of the London Air Ambulance charity
- It follows royal news that Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward are marking this milestone in lockdown
The Duke of Cambridge has chosen to help air ambulances in a special way during the coronavirus crisis.
Prince William has granted the service permission to use the private lawn at Kensington Palace to land and re-fuel. Helicopters will be able to take off and land from Perks Field - a landing site usually reserved for Royal Family helicopters.
Confirming the news, a royal source said, "Perks Field has been made available to the London Air Ambulance. The palaces are happy to help in these times.”
The move could save hundreds of lives as paramedics will save time by not having to fly to the nearest fuelling base in Watford.
The air ambulance service has always been a cause close to William's heart as he worked as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for 18 months back in 2015.
He had to give up his post in 2017 after taking on more royal duties on behalf of the Queen, but became a patron of the charity in March this year.
Prior to his stint as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, William served with the RAF in Angelsey as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
There was even talk of him wanting to re-join the air ambulance to help in the fight against coronavirus. A source revealed, "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."
Prince William and Duchess Catherine have both been doing their bits in recent weeks to raise spirits amid the coronavirus crisis.
Just last week Catherine made a surprise video call to new parents Rebecca Attwood and John Gill, congratulating them on the birth of their son Max.
And new mum Rebecca certainly found the experience "surreal". She said, "Having a baby is an extraordinary experience at any time, but having one during lockdown and then having a surprise conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge after two hours' sleep was particularly surreal! "
Catherine and William are currently in lockdown at their Anmer Hall residence in Norfolk. Kensington Palace is their London base.
