Prince William on Swirral Edge, Helvellyn, during his time with mountain rescue teams this summer

Prince William’s career as a search and rescue pilot took a step forward this week after he completed his advanced helicopter training course.

St James’s Palace confirmed yesterday that the prince, who is the patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, will start training to pilot the RAF’s Sea King helicopters that support the volunteer rescue teams throughout  Britain, as well as the RAF’s own professional teams.

The palace said the prince, 27, was ‘looking forward’ to starting the course, based at RAF Valley on Anglesey early next year.

He completed his 12-month advanced rotary training course at RAF Shawbury which means that he can now has his provisional Flying Wings. Prince William began the course at the Shropshire air base, where Prince Harry is also training, last year.

Flight Lieutenant Wales, as he is known in the service, accompanied members of volunteer mountain rescue teams to the summit of Helvellyn in the Lake District in July this year as part of his role as patron. His father, Prince Charles, also served as a helicopter pilot – in the Royal Navy.