Queen Elizabeth Gifts A Luxury Helicopter To Her Grandson Prince William

Queen Elizabeth Gifts A Luxury Helicopter To Her Grandson Prince William – Representational Image – CC BY-ND

A birthday gift worth £8 million isn’t something everyone can afford. But for a Queen, that isn’t a big deal. The Queen gave her grandson Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge a 2008 Augusta A109S Grand chopper as a birthday present ahead of his 32nd birthday. The Sovereign Grant is paying for the chopper; it is the public fund that the Government gives to the Monarch annually.

The helicopter comes with leather seat covers and customized interior. It is made by Agusta Westland, an Anglo Italian company. The Queen’s other choppers have been American Sikorskys. Like the royal family’s other private chopper, the new helicopter will also be kept at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

The helicopter will transport the royal couple William and Kate and other members of the royal household to official events and visits. Prince William is a qualified RAF chopper pilot but whether or not he will fly the helicopter himself is unclear. He is a search and rescue pilot with the RAF and holds the title of Flight Lieutenant Wales. He finished his training as a helicopter pilot in 2009 at RAF Valley in Anlesey, Wales. He also holds a commercial pilot’s license.

The royal family is leasing the chopper in an attempt to avoid any further incidents like the one involving Prince Charles and Camilla. Their chartered helicopter had to land on its way to Hay-on-Wye Festival in Wales last May. The new helicopter will make travel easy for the royal household. They will also be able to avoid chartering helicopters on short term basis, which poses a significant security risk.

Another reason seems to be the growing engagements of Prince William and his wife Kate, the chopper will allow them to travel faster and spend more time with their son George.