The Duke of Cambridge will today pay tribute to the “crucial lifeline” provided by air ambulance services.
William worked as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance and in January became a patron of the London Air Ambulance.
At a gala dinner tonight he will meet crew members and former patients before drawing upon his own experiences as a pilot in his speech.
He will say: “I was delighted to become your patron this year to shine a light on the incredible work that the charity undertakes and to help champion positive mental health and wellbeing in the emergency services.
“Having served as an air ambulance pilot myself, I am in no doubt about the crucial lifeline that air ambulances provide.
“I wish you all the best as you build on this year’s successes and continue providing crucial support for many years to come.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began today by meeting Grenfell Tower and terror attack victims at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust in central London.
The new independent charity will provide an emergency response to disasters in the UK, and has been set up after several terror attacks since 2017.
They will meet victims of disasters, including Grenfell and the Westminster Bridge attack, and make a short speech marking the official inauguration of the charity.
The duke was joined by his grandmother, the Queen, during a visit to the Grenfell site shortly after the blaze in June 2017.
