Prince William and the Air Ambulance

Most people are polite when meeting anyone they don't know personally, aren't they, unless they have an axe to grind?

Most but not all surely Ana

Oh, whatever you say Anniebach.

Maybe if he meets lots of ordinary people he will not read out the king's speech as readily as his gran. He might even disagree with some of it and want his say. Can but dream. Will not be around to find out.

Anniebach If you were working with William in these circumstances, wouldn't you try to engage him in some serious conversation about the state of the country?

No Lona, for two reasons , 1. It would not be fair to expect him to air his views if the subject was political. 2, I would think he is well school in avoiding being involved in such discussions .

Do you think he would take part in a discussion on the budget or millions being spent on buck house , or the latest trouble in N Ireland, the coroners criticism of the army following the inquest into the deaths of three soldiers on exercises, he could relax listen to talk about a night in the pub or saving the elephant but no one could or should expect him to discuss anything remotely political , and these are things people talk about during tea breaks, no idea if he would join in dirty jokes or moans about a row with his wife or in laws, doubt it, they never know what may teach the press ,

No, I don't suppose he would be giving any opinions, but he may listen to the chat and may even begin to get some understanding of the trials and tribulations of the common man.
Shame, we'll never know!

That sounds like a plea for an interventionist monarch rather than a constitutional one, durhamjen.

Lona, if I was working in a team, even with someone who happened to be in line for the throne, I think I would engage with him as a team member rather than as someone to be debated with. Chances are that the talk will be mostly about sport, TV, films, pop music and coping with kids.

Anniebach, surely the way to respond to a Windsor asking a question is to reply appropriately, just like anyone else. If they ask a probing or challenging question give as good as you get; if they are dutifully going through the motions, respond in kind: there's no need to be rude. And they aren't always predictable; the Queen famously asked a distinguished economist or banker why nobody apparently saw the 2008 disaster coming, and left him floundering.

If you get snapped at by the D of E or the Princess Royal, fight back! They don't mind, and there's nothing they can do about it anyway.

But he doesn't mix with the common man. He went to public school, university and was then an RAF officer. All walks of life where etiquette and good manners are the norm. His colleagues in the Air Ambulance Service will have received similar training.

It's highly unlikely that anyone will put him in a embarrassing position.

Why would they want to?

Lona, that is just my point, he may listen, probably be interested but he can not take part, he cannot be one of the blokes .

grumpa, most of my working life was with men only , no way did men in their thirties and older spend much time talking about pop music and cinema , more likely to talk about crippling mortgages and what a pain in the a** the boss/manager can be

DH, who has no time for most of the human race, saw the interview with William today and remarked that he seems quite a decent chap! [falling off chair emoticon!]

If you watch any of the TV series involving rescue helicopters and air ambulances it is obvious that they are all working in situations where one person can't stand apart and say "I'm sorry I'm not mixing with you lot" they have to build a team where everyone shares everything and they work as solid unit. Peoples' lives depend upon it. Having watched an air ambulance landing and taking off among the trees behind our house at the weekend it is not a job that could be handed to any just any unemployed chap who turned up at the job centre.

Rather have no monarch, grumppa.

I doubt he will meet many old Etonians Merlotgran , and again the point I am making , no one would put him in an embarrassing position therefore they would always be careful what they say . Not ALL air ambulance crew are ex RAF and there are paramedics too, doubt they were at Eton , not the ones I know anyway . He will mix with ordinary working men , police, mountain rescue, firemen , etc

I expect he will be fine- they are a team doing a job and not at a social occasion! Some of the situations that they will be dealing with will be emotionally upsetting and difficult and will create a bond. It isn't like an airline pilot just getting from A to B.

Anniebach I don't know why you assume that " no one would put him in an embarrassing position etc.", there's always someone happy to ask difficult questions.
His team may not all be Royalists.

He'll be no stranger to salty language -just think of his Grandad! Not famed for politeness.

Once the novelty wears off he'll just be part of the team otherwise the team won't be able to work properly and the air ambulance service wouldn't want that.

Once he's part of the team he'll hear all the usual stuff you hear at work. What was on the tv, who has a hangover, who's going on holiday and where, who's had a row with the wife/husband....in fact all the everyday gossip that takes place in normal work situations. I guess he'll be more careful about what he says than the other way round.

I have to join in this discussion to say that PW has done it all before! He flew 'the Big Yellow Bird' from RAF Valley and flew rescue missions in the mountains and along the coast. He has experienced mess-room banter, will be fine!

Good grief, merlotgran, what makes you think that 'etiquette and good manners' are the norm at university? Even fifty years ago at St Andrews, formality was a very small part of our lives. And as for bad language, I don't doubt that Etonians and St Andreans can be just as foul mouthed as the comp kids I see (and hear) queuing for Gregg's pasties at lunch time!

I have to agree OGM both Princes will be accustomed to the banter and I can't think of a better job for PW at least he is putting the cost of his training to good use so well done to him.

Well, if you think those who will work with him have not been vetted, not instructed on protocol , he will be just one of then chaps and will have a deeper understanding of the working man, so be it . Many believe Harry was one of the chaps when in the army !

I'm sure they will have been vetted Anniebach but I can't imagine that all the people he comes across will tug the forelock! I seem to remember that Harry's 'pals' in the army expressed 'solidarity' by posing nude. PW and PH cannot be universally disliked. By the way I have no strong views on the retention of the monarchy or not, just think that PW, in particular, should be allowed to join the rest of the human race if he wants to.

Oldgreymare , Harry was not treated as one of the men,this is a fact.

I am not saying they are disliked, I am saying that they can and will be one of the chaps is not possible

Neither Prince Harry nor any of his fellow officers would be 'one of the men'. That's the Army.

The people they are rescuing will not have been vetted. They are saving lives- not working out if the medical emergency is 'the right sort'!