With the country back in lockdown, the Royal Family are back to video calls instead of in-person engagements. As part of the Remembrance Day commemorations, the Duke of Cambridge joined military personnel currently serving in Qatar, Somalia and The Gulf for a virtual chat. William recalled his own time in the RAF, and one particularly memorable outing when he was serving on the HMS Iron Duke in the Carribean back in 2008.
He had been flying a Lynx chopper and managed to hunt down smugglers with £40million worth of cocaine.
One of the servicemen taking part in the call this month was Leading Physical Trainer (LPT) Damon Bell, who was calling from HMS Montrose.
He told William that last month they seized over 450kg of methamphetamine from smugglers in the Straits of Hormuz, worth £20million.
He joked: “[It’s] only half of what you got on the Iron Duke but still nonetheless very good!”
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The Duke of Cambrdige responded: “I wasn’t going to bring that up but I’m glad that’s still being talked about!”
William, who served in the RAF for seven years, emphasised how everyone is “grateful” for the job they are doing and that Remembrance Sunday reminds people about all the committed service people there are around the world.
He also admitted his fitness levels have dropped off over lockdown, and joked with the PT about doing a session over Zoom.
William said: “I remember being beasted by people like you Damon on the Iron Duke.
Mr Myers, who said the drug bust reveal was “fascinating”, said he could imagine William “being like Airwolf”.
Airwolf is an action drama TV series from the Eighties, which centered on a military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they went on wild missions.
Meanwhile, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, spoke to families who have benefited from the Royal British Legion, the charity for which poppies raise money.
The charity helps veterans and their families and, in particular, steps in for those who have lost loved ones in the armed forces and supports them in their hour of need.
Kate spoke to an 11-year-old boy called Charlton Taylor whose father, Michael Taylor, was a Royal Marine and tragically killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.
Charlton was proudly wearing his father’s medals and Kate reportedly told him how proud his father would be to see that.
Mr Myers said: “This is what they do best really, isn’t it? I think it was a very, very nice sentiment.”
In a year when the nation has become especially grateful of its NHS and key workers, the royals are making sure people do not forget about the Armed Forces too, who are still out doing their jobs every day of the year.
Mr Myers added that we are unlikely to see the royals doing any in-person engagements until after December 2, when the national lockdown ends.
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