Prince William at the controls of an RAF Sea King. Photo: Flight Sergeant Andy Carnall/MoD

Prince William has left his job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, and will now concentrate on royal duties.

During his three years operational service with the RAF at Valley on Anglesey, the Duke of Cambridge has taken part in 156 individual search and rescue operations with 149 people being rescued.

His last 24 hour shift, which ended at 9.30am on Tuesday, was uneventful, with only a routine training flight and no incidents to respond to.

The Sea King helicopters of RAF Valley frequently support the mountain rescue teams of north Wales in evacuating injured and distressed walkers and climbers from the mountains of Snowdonia.

The prince flew 628 hours flying Sea Kings as part of 22 Squadron, of which 231 hours were spent on rescue missions.

The Duke of Cambridge is also patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

Wing Commander Sparky Dunlop, the squadron’s commanding officer, said: “Flight Lieutenant Wales has played an important role in the RAF Search and Rescue Force, as a pilot and aircraft captain.

“Missions were conducted across Wales, north-west England and the Irish Sea in a range of weather conditions which tested the crew’s airmanship skills and determination.

“I have flown with him and been very impressed with his flying ability and I’d be happy to fly with him again.

“We all wish him and his young family the very best for the future.”

Prince William received small gifts from his fellow search and rescue aviators, and engineering staff provided him with a memento in the form of a plinth-mounted cyclic control stick top.

Squadron Leader Alex Brassington, who was the duke’s flight commander at C Flight, said: “Flight Lieutenant Wales has had a very successful tour on the SAR Force and has developed into a well respected captain and junior officer.

“His skill as a pilot has directly resulted in lives being saved and he has ably led his crew in many SAR operations in the challenging north Wales environment, often operating his aircraft in poor weather and at night in Snowdonia.

“Of note, he was the co-pilot of the crew that responded to the Marine Vessel Swanland sinking off the north Wales coast which resulted in two crew members being recovered from the sea and the winchman being awarded for bravery.

“On the ground, he has been involved in all aspects of Flight life and has made a valuable contribution to the output of 22 Squadron.

“C Flight wishes him and his family all the best for the future.”

The RAF and Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter service is due to be privatised in 2016, with a new service being operated by US-owned Bristow from 10 bases, seven of them new, throughout the UK.

It is unclear how many military crew will continue in search and rescue with the private service. Bristow’s chief executive William E Chiles said: “It is planned that some of the military personnel currently involved in SAR in the UK will join Bristow Helicopters to work under this contract, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Bristow family.”