Prince William will leave the military after seven years of service to become a full time royal.
According to an announcement from Kensington Palace, the Duke of Cambridge finished up his last tasks as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot on Tuesday, the BBC reported.
He's switching out his military duties for royal commitments from this point, in addition to placing more focus on charities he runs with Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.
The couple will move baby Prince George in the next couple of weeks from their current house in the North Wales Isle of Anglesey to Kensington Palace.
According to the BBC's Royal correspondent Peter Hunt, this period is one of "transition, and not the moment when William becomes a full time royal."
For now, William plans to extend his feelers into the field of conservation, with a special focus on endangered species. He'll work through the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the palace stated. This is a cause in which Prince William has long had interest.
"The threats to our natural heritage are extensive, but I believe that this collaboration of the best minds in conservation will provide the impetus for a renewed commitment and action to protect endangered species and habitats for future generations," Prince William said. "At the root of the illegal wild life trade, for example, is the demand for products that require the deaths of tens of thousands of these animals every year, pushing them further towards extinction."
On his last day as an RAF official, the Prince told BBC that saving people's lives was one of the most rewarding parts of working as a search and rescue pilot.
"I don't think there's any greater calling in life...to be able to see a son or daughter's face when you bring their mother or father back from the edge of death - it's quite powerful," he told camera crews filming a documentary called "Helicopter Rescue."
Head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, called Prince William an "integral" part of the force.
"Often in the most demanding conditions, [he] has contributed directly to saving lives in the mountains of North Wales and from the ravages of the Irish Sea.
"He has earned the respect of all who have worked with him as a highly professional and competent pilot," he said.
© 2025 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
