Prince William at the controls of a Sea King. Photo: Flight Sergeant Andy Carnall/MoD

The newlywed Prince William was back at work yesterday, helping fly two rescue missions on the Snowdon massif to aid stricken walkers.

The Duke of Cambridge was among the crew of a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley that went to the aid of four police officers who got into difficulties on Crib y Ddysgl and called for help.

One of the group, from the West Midlands, developed vertigo on the 1,065m (3,494ft) ridge and the prince’s helicopter airlifted the men to safety in the valley bottom. They were uninjured.

The RAF Valley crew had earlier airlifted a 70-year-old walker who had a suspected heart attack on Y Lliwedd, 2km (1¼ miles) away, after the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team was called to his aid. The helicopter flew the man to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

Fifteen mountain rescue team members were involved in the rescue of the man on Y Lliwedd.