It has been announced in the South West of England tonight that the Search and Rescue operations at RAF Chivenor, covering North Cornwall and North Devon, are to be phased out during nighttime hours as a money-saving exercise.

A Sea King helicopter used by RAF Search and Rescue

The slack will be taken up by bases in Barry, South Wales and RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

Further down the line, it’s understood that RAF Sea King flights will be replaced by private services from 2012.

Prince William has just graduated as a Sea King Search and Rescue pilot and is currently undergoing further training in Anglesey, North Wales prior to taking up full operational duties.

The question he must be asking is quite where he will fit into an operation that is rapidly being scaled down and privatized. It is unthinkable that the MoD has not factored his role into their plans.

Could it be that he has made a bad career move and, like many ordinary people across the land, will find himself stranded without a job?

His brother, Prince Harry, is currently training to be an attack helicopter pilot with the Army and hopes to serve again in Afghanistan at some point in the future. It looks as if he, at least, has some job security.

Will these circumstances free William to take up his Royal role earlier than predicted, perhaps before the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in 2012?

And what of an early marriage?

Apotheosis of George Washington, The Capitol, Washington DC

We wish all our contributors and readers a splendid Christmas, followed by a very successful New Year.

John Evans

The Daily Mail has an interesting piece on how Princess Beatrice seems almost a reincarnation of the young Queen Victoria (pictured below).

There is certainly a remarkable likeness.

The article also reproduces a whole series of stunning pictorial comparisons with present Royals and their predecessors, some going back centuries. Check out the one between King Edward I (1239-1307) and Prince William. The old King comes to life before our eyes.

My favourite though, is Louis Frederick Prince of Wales (1707-1751) and Freddie Windsor. Frederick was the eldest son of George II and father of George III as well as the Great-Grandfather of Victoria. He died before his father, allowing his son to succeed to the Throne.

Lord Frederick Windsor — spookily bearing his lookalike’s name — has very individual eyes and a face that bears few comparisons. Until now.

Regular readers will know that there has not been much activity in Royal Anecdotes for the past two or three months.

There are various reasons for this, not the least being that Royal news of any consequence has been thin on the ground. The rest is explained by a major reorganization of Syntagma sites, the development of a new business: Syntagma Books, and my own writing activities: The Eternal Quest for Immortality: Is it staring you in the face?, to be published very shortly.

Starting on Monday October 26, RA will be one of eight remaining sites in Syntagma Digital (down from 55), which will receive full attention and posting.

I hope you will forgive the tardiness and continue to support RA in its new incarnation.

Best wishes
John