Prince of Wales is joined by David Beckham in the cockpit of a helicopter as he visits the Air Ambulance Charity

Prince William was joined by David Beckham this morning as the couple attended the viewing new London Air Ambulance Charity helicopters.

The former English captain, 49, and future king, 42, visited RAF Northolt to check out two planes and the prince couldn’t resist getting into the pilot’s seat – after revealing last month he’s keen to start flying again .

William, who worked as an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance between March 2015 and July 2017, once again wore his designer stubble – which is also a favorite of the sports star.

The helicopter is one result of the ‘Up Against Time’ fundraising campaign, launched in 2021 after it became clear that within a few years London’s Air Ambulance Charity’s MD902 helicopters would be out of service, severely impacting outcomes for thousands of people of patients per year.

The appeal raised £16 million, enabling the purchase of two new H135 helicopters, allowing the medical team to continue providing their vital services across London.

Maverick and Goose have nothing on this pair! The Prince of Wales and former England captain looked sharp in a suit (and matching beards)

Prince William, chairman of the Football Association, has a friendly relationship with the Beckham family, with David and Victoria attending his wedding to Kate in 2012, as well as Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018.

The former England captain has remained close to both the warring brothers and their father, King Charles.

In 2020, David appeared in a video for William’s charity Heads Up, while the pair have attended several football matches together, including with his son Romeo at the Royal Box at Wembley.

David also queued for 13 hours to see the late queen lie in state at Westminster Hall – and refused to skip the line.

After paying his respects to Her Majesty, he said: ‘Throughout my career I have been asked to do something relating to the Royal Family, Her Majesty, the Princes, our King now, I have always been very willing to do that .

‘I grew up in a family that were royalists. Today I think back to my grandparents because if my grandparents had been alive they would have been here, so it’s nice to be here to celebrate Her Majesty’s life and her legacy with everyone.”

The Prince of Wales and David Beckham shook hands as they arrived together at the Northolt base

The pair appeared ready to take off as they chatted in the cockpit of the helicopter at the Northolt base

William and Beckham appeared to share a joke as the former footballer stepped into the cockpit

Beckham, 49, led the way in the helicopter while Prince William followed. The pair both looked sharp in jackets, trousers and suede shoes

David also attended the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Earthshot Awards in Boston last year.

He also invited them to his son Brooklyn’s wedding, which they were unfortunately unable to attend, but they did wish the family “lots of joy.”

About William and Harry, William said in 2012: ‘They are two people who have grown up in the spotlight and the respect that I have for them, and that people in our country and around the world have for them, is amazing. ,’

‘I have enormous respect for William and Harry because of what they have been through from a very young age. They are clearly a credit to their mother and to everyone in the royal family.”

William’s visit to the charity comes after he revealed a few weeks ago that he would ‘love’ to fly helicopters again during a visit to Wales Air Ambulance’s headquarters in Llanelli, South Wales.

During the visit, William revealed that plans are in the pipeline to fly the Wales Air Ambulance from its Cardiff Bay base.

He spoke to the pilots and crew of the £8.5 million Airbus H145S helicopter, which he is still qualified to fly.

The Prince of Wales also revealed he would like to make a ‘comeback’ and get behind the wheel of a helicopter again.

He said during the visit: ‘I would really like to fly again, I could volunteer for a weekend and come back.’

Prince William and David Beckham have been friends for a long time, although the former England player was also previously close to Prince Harry and Meghan

Football players first! Prince William followed David Beckham into the cockpit of a helicopter as he visited the Air Ambulance Charity this morning

Prince William is a patron of the charity Wales Air Ambulance, which saves hundreds of lives every year by sending medical teams to accident sites in their helicopters, which can fly at speeds of 140 miles per hour.

He heard about developments at the charity since his last visit in 2023 and chatted with flight crew about the latest medical technology on board the air ambulance fleet.

His visit marked the annual National Air Ambulance Week, which raises money to keep flying doctors in the air.

William completed his training as a helicopter pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Force in 2010, after which he flew an air ambulance for two years before stepping down to take on more royal roles on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

He was known as Flight Lieutenant Wales when serving in the RAF in Angelsey, North Wales.

During his three-year tour, he took part in 156 search and rescue operations, saving 149 people.

William has flown his family around in helicopters in the past, including to the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

However, the late queen reportedly didn’t like seeing her grandson flying around in helicopters.

Robert Jobson’s Our King claims that Queen Elizabeth warned William not to fly with his eldest son, Prince George, due to her fears of a tragic accident that would threaten the future of the monarchy.

A source previously told The Sun: ‘Her Majesty has told close friends and courtiers that she would like William himself to stop flying, especially in bad weather, as helicopters are not the safest form of transport.’

The source added that it made the Queen “nervous” and kept her awake at night.

In May this year, William took to the skies in an Apache helicopter after being crowned leader of his brother’s former army regiment by King Charles.

Prince Harry qualified as an Apache helicopter commander in 2013, after three years of training.

Had Harry and Meghan not stepped down as working royals in 2020, the appointment as colonel-in-chief would likely have been his.

William has made his love for flying helicopters clear over the years.