Royal watchers hoping to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carrying out more official duties together have been eagerly awaiting the Prince's decision on whether or not he will sign up for four more years with the RAF. Now it seems that the Queen's grandson could have the best of both worlds. If William chooses to step down from his role as a Search and Rescue pilot for the RAF in Wales he could return to the position in the Household Cavalry he put on hold back in 2006. The 30-year-old heir is currently on secondment from the military group which works specifically for the Head of State and would be able to return meaning he could also take on more royal engagements.
The Duke, who is set to make his decision by the end of December, can see the move as a compromise between his royal duties and love for Armed Forces. Before taking a break from the commitment William served with the Blues and Royals as a troop commander in an armoured reconnaissance.
Whilst he was still in training six years ago, Queen Elizabeth II gave a knowing smile as she walked past her grandson on a visit to Sandhurst. Likewise William couldn't contain his smile as the monarch passed the officer cadets who attended the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy.
Due to their allegiance to the Royal family, the Household Cavalry Prince William could join would be either based in London or Windsor, meaning he and his wife, The Duchess of Cambridge, would move into Kensington Palace just the other side of Hyde Park from Buckingham Palace and his grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip.
Since his marriage to Kate, the royal couple's diary has become busier and busier. And with William often at work, The Duchess of Cambridge has been attending a series of engagements on her own. Last month 30-year-old Kate opened the Natural History Museums' Treasures Gallery. The Duchess toured the exhibition, on November 27, which features some of the museum's finest treasures, including rare first editions of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. She also showed off a glossy new fringe for the occasion, turning heads with her new haircut and colour, which also appeared darker than before.
Also in November William released several behind-the-scenes pictures showing a typical 24-hour shift in his current job. The images proved the royal is just like any of his fellow servicemen at RAF Valley on Anglesey, north Wales certainly not above making his own cups of tea or making his bed each morning. The Prince, who has been living in the Welsh town with his wife since taking on the role, is known in his Royal Air Force working life as Flight Lieutenant Wales – in his official capacity as a Search and Rescue (SAR) pilot flying Royal Air Force Sea King helicopters.
A spokesperson for St James's Palace said: "The Duke's choices remain to undertake another tour of duty with the Search and Rescue Force; undertake another role within the Armed Forces, should one be available to him; or leave his full time job with the military and take on other public duties."