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Prince William aids in quarry rescue

BBC One Wales have released a short preview video for Helicopter Rescue, the documentary featuring Prince William and the Search and Rescue team at the prince's base at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

The Sea King helicopter
The Sea King helicopter Credit: BBC Wales

The Duke of Cambridge is shown piloting a helicopter on a rescue mission to a slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

One of his crew are winched from the ground after rescuing a boy who had fallen off an old railway bridge onto rocks.

Prince William speaking in the BBC documentary Helicopter Rescue
Prince William speaking in the BBC documentary Helicopter Rescue Credit: BBC Wales

"As captain you're trying to play out the entire rescue, the transit to the rescue and back again in your mind, and pick up any circumstances or problems you can foresee, and try and fix them on the ground before you get airborne," he says in the programme.

The Sea King winches one of the Search and Rescue crew
The Sea King winches one of the Search and Rescue crew Credit: BBC Wales

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Prince William in BBC search and rescue documentary

Prince William
Prince William Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Prince William is to be the subject of a BBC documentary series featuring his work as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

Helicopter Rescue will air on BBC One Wales in April, and will show the Duke of Cambridge serving with C Flight of 22 Squadron at RAF Valley on Anglesey since 2010.

Speaking in the documentary, he said:

"There's no greater feeling than when you've actually done some good and saved someone's life," he said.

"I don't think there's any greater calling in life… to be able to see a son or daughter's face when you bring their mother or father back from the edge of death - it's quite powerful."

Helicopter Rescue will air on BBC One Wales on Monday 8 April at 8:30 pm.**

*Read more: *Final chapter in RAF Sea King search and rescue

Final chapter in search and rescue

The closing chapter began today in the history of Britain's Sea King search and rescue helicopters - with the announcement that the service will be sold to an American company.

For thirty five years they have provided life saving help and for the past four - a job for Prince William.

ITV News Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart looks back on the Sea King's finest hours.

Duke of Cambridge's base could be shut down

The Duke of Cambridge shows his father one of the RAF's distinctive yellow Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley on Anglesey
The Duke of Cambridge shows his father one of the RAF's distinctive yellow Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley on Anglesey Credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

Among the 12 bases from where search and rescue operations are launched is RAF Valley on Anglesey, where the Duke of Cambridge is based.

Under the contracts due to be unveiled tomorrow, the total number of bases is expected to be cut from 12 to10 although it is not clear which bases will be closed.

Assurances have already been given that the Duke will be moved to another part of the military rather than being employed by the firm that is awarded the search and rescue contracts.

Read: Government to announce sell-off of Search and Rescue service

Prince William calls for end to 'shocking' ivory trade

The Duke of Cambridge has told an international conference that more needs to be done to stop the "shocking rise" in the levels of elephant and rhino poaching.

The increasing popularity of rhino horn medicines and ivory furniture in Asia is believed to be fuelling the increase.

Rhinos were killed for their horns in the reserve in Kenya where Prince William proposed to his wife Kate.

ITV News China correspondent Angus Walker sent this report from Thailand.

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Clegg 'modernising out-of-date' royal succession rules

The reforms couldn't be more timely, given the fantastic news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.

The other Commonwealth countries where Her Majesty The Queen is head of state have just given us the green light to change the law, and we are wasting no time.

At the moment, if the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is a girl, any younger brothers she has will overtake her in line to the throne.

We're modernising these out-of-date rules so that men and women in line to the Throne have equal rights.

– Deputy Prime minister Nick Clegg

Royal succession bill to be debated in Commons

The House of Commons will debate changes to the laws of royal succession today.

Royal Succession
If the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child is a girl, she could become the future monarch. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

The legislation would end discrimination against female royals so that men no longer took precedence over women in the order of succession.

That would mean the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child can become monarch even if it is a girl who later has younger brothers.

The proposals will also end the bar on royal heirs marrying Catholics if they want to keep their entitlement to the throne.

Extension planned for Sandringham Estate

Anmer Hall on the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk
Anmer Hall on the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Royal aides have submitted planning permission for a "major development" on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The local council is considering plans which would convert wood stores at Anmer Hall into accommodation and extend a garage block.

The application follows reports that Queen is preparing to give Grade II-listed Anmer Hall to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge as they prepare for the arrival of their first child.

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