He was an EAAA pilot for 3 years

Prince William Reflects On His Air Ambulance Service In Emotional Letter

Prince William has penned an open letter in honour of Air Ambulance Week 2020. The Duke served as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance for three years, an experience he reflected on in his personal letter. Read on to see Prince William's message of thanks to all involved with air ambulance work and the UK's air ambulance charities.

Prince William has a very personal connection to the air ambulance community.

To mark Day 1 of Air Ambulance Week 2020 in the UK, the Duke of Cambridge wrote an open letter to all who "work, volunteer, or support" air ambulance charities in the UK. In the letter, William recalled the experiences he observed while himself serving with the East Anglian Air Ambulance for three years — in July 2015 through July 2017.

Prince William's Air Ambulance Week 2020 Letter

An excerpt of the Duke's open letter appeared on the Royal Family's social media pages on Sept. 7, the first day of the UK's AAW2020.

"Having seen first-hand the incredible work of air ambulance teams both on the front line and behind the scenes, I hold a profound respect for all that you do," the letter began.

"Whether you are a part of the critical care team bringing vital medical support to patients when every second counts; an engineer who ensures that crews can be safely deployed at a moment's notice; or a volunteer working to keep the service running, the country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude," HRH The Duke of Cambridge signed off.

Accompanying the letter is several photos of Queen Elizabeth II visiting Prince William at the EAAA base in 2016 as well as the Duke paying a visit to the London Air Ambulance in 2019 (seen above by clicking through the photos).

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The Duke of Cambridge remains active in the air ambulance community

In the full letter, Prince William additionally reflected on the pandemic's impact on emergency responders as well as air ambulance fundraising efforts. "Your tireless dedication to saving lives and helping those in times of greatest need is a source of huge pride for our country," he concluded the letter in-full.

Earlier in 2020, Prince William became patron of London's Air Ambulance Charity, taking on a meaningful role with the cause close to his heart. Moreover, during the pandemic, he allowed air ambulances to land at a private royal lawn at Kensington Palace.

The Cambridge family has been away from their usual apartment at Kensington Palace, but is thought to be heading home for Prince George and Princess Charlotte's return to school this week.