How William's New Job Will Affect Kate, George, and the Royal Family

Prince William made a big announcement on Thursday when he confirmed that he would be taking on a new job as an air ambulance pilot in Norwich, England, later this year. The new job marks the Duke of Cambridge's first postmilitary gig after he left his position as a RAF Search and Rescue pilot back in September. While the job announcement seems innocent enough, it actually means there are a lot of changes coming up for Wills, Kate Middleton, and their son, Prince George. In fact, William's new career may also affect the future of the royal family and how direct heirs will take on careers in the future. Keep reading to find out why William's new nonroyal job is actually a big deal.

Expect Fewer Royal Appearances From Will
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Expect Fewer Royal Appearances From Will

With a new job, William will likely have to cut back considerably on his royal duties. He'll be working both day and night shifts for East Anglian Air Ambulance and thus will have a lot less time to dedicate to royal events and official tours. In fact, a Palace spokesperson has said that William is "fully committed" to his new job and it will be his "primary occupation." Wills had recently beefed up his royal schedule after he left his post as a Search and Rescue pilot with the RAF back in September 2013. Since then, he has gone to dozens of official events and even took part in a grueling three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand with Kate and George. The cutting back of royal duties may have been a draw for William, who is still adjusting to life as a new father. His new "civilian" post will allow Will, Kate, and George to enjoy a relatively normal life before he inevitably takes over the full-time royal post as the Prince of Wales and, later, king.

In Fact, Just Expect to See Less Will and Kate in General
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In Fact, Just Expect to See Less Will and Kate in General

William's new post is close to Anmer Hall, the Cambridges' country home in Norwich. While the family will still be keeping their newly renovated Kensington Palace home as their London base, they will be spending most of their time in the country. That means we will see fewer candid London moments from Kate, including a serious dip in strolls in public parks with George. Of course, the privacy of their Norwich home was probably a huge bonus for the growing family. Plus, Granny will be close by as the queen's Winter home, Sandringham, is just around the corner. That means that the annual Christmas trek will be much easier on Will and Kate.

But Will Kate Beef Up Her Solo Duties?
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But Will Kate Beef Up Her Solo Duties?

Kate fans who are hoping that this means William's other half will be increasing her royal duties in lieu of her husband are in for a disappointment. According to royal reporter Rebecca English, the Palace told her that Kate will continue with her "small portfolio of work" and focus on "being a mother." So, basically, that means there are no plans for an increase in Kate's workload. However, she will have one major milestone this September when she completes her first solo royal tour in Malta.

Are Royals Even Allowed to Have "Regular" Jobs?
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Are Royals Even Allowed to Have "Regular" Jobs?

There is no law against members of the royal family holding down "civilian" jobs, however, the tradition has been that male members of the direct line of succession are expected to either focus on a military career or work on philanthropy. This means that William is the first immediate heir to the throne to sign onto a civilian position, and it's a major step in the direction of modernization for the royal family.

So, Will He Get a Salary?
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So, Will He Get a Salary?

Yes, of course! The difference is that William plans to donate his entire salary to charity. William's estimated yearly pay is said to be £40,000 (or a little over $67,000), and he has already signed on for a two-year contract with the ambulance service, so that will be quite a bit of money going to good causes.

What Will He Actually Do?
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What Will He Actually Do?

According to aviation experts, William's new post will be similar to his work as a Search and Rescue pilot in Wales, but he will be focused more on transporting people who are in need of medical assistance. Pilots typically work on a four-on, four-off day schedule, and shifts are divided from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or from 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. While William has airlifted people before, he will be dealing with a lot more injured people than he is used to and will work alongside EMTs and doctors to make sure the patients are safe.