Prince William became the Prince of Ales today as he popped into a local Wetherspoons after joining paramedic heroes in Birmingham.
The future king visited first-responders as he was today unveiled as Patron of the College of Paramedics. He chatted with dozens of paramedic staff who had travelled across the country for the conference speaking about training, drones and hospital waiting times. After thanking the medics for their “best wishes” following the Princess of Wales yesterday revealing that she was in remission from cancer, Wills, 42, joked that he would pop into the popular pub chain nearby to see if there were any fellow Aston Villa fans.
Punters were then left agasp when the heir walked into the The London and North Western pub in Birmingham New Street station before saying hello and sitting at a table of locals. The prince ordered a pint of cider while waiting for his train back to London alongside Kensington Palace aides. Mike Tindall once joked that he called William ‘One Pint Willy’.
Prince William can’t stop smiling in first appearance since Kate Middleton’s cancer update
Earlier at the event in the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, William, who formerly served as an air ambulance pilot in Anglesey, spoke to paramedics about the pressures of the job and how they are harnessing new technology. William was in Birmingham ahead of tonight’s Aston Villa game away at Everton.
When he arrived at the BCEC and greeted his hosts he said: “I’ll be watching the game and keeping an eye on what’s going on.” After meeting 999 heroes Wills joined a room packed full of paramedics for a series of presentations and talks. And he noticed an old pal who served as a search and rescue paramedic with him at RAF Valley in Anglesey when William was a search and rescue pilot. Patting Ed Griffiths on the shoulder, Wills joked : “Last time I saw you was on a beach.” Ed replied: “Yes in Newquay.”
During his talk, former colleague Ed spoke about Air Ambulance pilots saying it was an important job and made a quick joke at William’s expense. After asking “Do we have any pilots here?” He looked at William and said: “It’s not as difficult as some people make out.” But then added the prince was a “very safe pair of hands.”
Taking the stage after being announced in his new role, William said: ” It’s great to be back in Birmingham, and for any fellow Villa fans with us today – I look forward to celebrating our win over Everton later! “I am so pleased to be standing here as the College of Paramedics’ new Patron and to have the opportunity to join your first ever Emergency and Critical Care conference.
“Thank you to everyone who has made this event possible. Often referred to as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of frontline healthcare, paramedics and those in the emergency services are adaptable, multiskilled and crucially, know how to work under pressure. “This pressure is something I was all too familiar with during my time as a pilot for RAF Search and Rescue and for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
William has taken an interest in the health and well-being of the emergency services
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“My time in these roles allowed me to better understand the day-to-day challenges that you all face and gave me the lifelong motivation to do all I can to support your community. It is not just another job. “Every day provides unpredictable challenges. Every shout is a journey into the unknown. Every split second decision has an immeasurable impact on so many people.
Afterwards, Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer at the College of Paramedics, said to Willia,: “I want to say how delighted we are to hear about the Royal Highness and send her our best wishes.” The prince nodded his head politely in acknowledgement.
It comes after his wife Kate yesterday revealed that her cancer was in remission. Speaking to a new recruit who had spent less than a year as a paramedic, William said: “It’s an exciting journey you are on.” Claire Fitchett, Specialist Paramedic at Hampshire and Isle of Wight, told the prince “being a paramedic can be a lonely place to work” and said it was good that so many paramedics were together at the conference. She also told William that paramedics were harnessing new technology.
William listens during the inaugural Emergency and Critical Care Conference
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She told him they are investigating using drones to fly automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from the mainland to Isle of Wight by drones. Wills added: “We still need people on the ground so still be in a job for a while.” The College of Paramedics was established in 2001 and is a membership organisation open to all UK paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and student paramedics.
It has more than 20,000 members improving professional standards, learning and development, and taking care of paramedics’ mental health and wellbeing. In February last year, the College was granted the Royal Charter of Incorporation by the King.
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