LONDON — Britain's Prince William is due to take his final flight as an air ambulance pilot Thursday, as the second-in-line to the throne prepares to take on more royal duties to support his 91-year-old grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. William said he had "profound respect" for the work of his colleagues (Reuters) 
 
 As William hangs up his flight suit, he said he is "proud" to have served with such an incredible team of people, who save lives across the East Anglian region every day. Writing in the Eastern Daily Press, William said "As I arrive for work at East Anglian Air Ambulance this evening, my last shift with this incredible team, I wanted to say thank you to my colleagues, team mates and the people of East Anglia who I have been so proud to serve. The Duke of Cambridge will complete his last shift as an air ambulance helicopter pilot with the @EastAngliAirAmb this evening. Prince William's Pilot Career - In pictures 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 1/17 The Duke of Cambridge in an East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter in 2016 BBC 
 
 2/17 Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge sits in the cockpit of an helicopter as he begins his new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) at Cambridge Airport on 13 July 2015 in Cambridge Stefan Rousseau WPA/Pool/Getty Images) 
 
 3/17 Britain's Prince William poses in front of a Sea King helicopter at RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales IN 2013 SAC Faye Storer/MOD/AP 
 
 4/17 Britain's Prince William walks away from his helicopter as he begins his new job as a co-pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) at Cambridge Airport on 13 July 2015 Stefan Rousseau/Pool/Reuters 
 
 5/17 Britain's Prince William is seen at RAF Henlow inNovember 2007 Sgt Graham Spark/Reuters 
 
 6/17 The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William in 2008 piloting a light aircraft around an airfield at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. I have the utmost respect for the job that our emergency services carry out, without fuss, on a daily basis. "Having had the great good fortune to experience serving the East Anglian Air Ambulance, I would like to finally say thank you to the community who fund, support and keep the air ambulance flying."
– With Prince Philip stepping back, Prince William is stepping up. William took off on his final flight as an air ambulance pilot Thursday as he prepares to take on more royal duties, reports NBC News. Writing in the Eastern Daily Press, per the Evening Standard, William said his experiences with East Anglian Air Ambulance "have instilled in me a profound respect for the men and women who serve in our emergency services, which I hope to continue to champion even as I leave the profession." Britain's royal family announced in January that William would leave his job in Norfolk to fulfill more royal duties. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now expected to spend more time at Kensington Palace in London, where Prince George will start school in September. They had previously spent the majority of their time at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.