Prince George 'loves planes and wants to join air cadets'

Prince George has a passion for aeroplanes and could be set to join the air cadets when he grows up.

The Duchess of Cambridge, suggested she and the Duke of Cambridge, a helicopter pilot, could have another flier in her family as their two-and-a-half-year-old son is "obsessed" with the air cadets.

Kate was speaking as she stepped out in her first engagement as Honorary Air Commandant of the Air Cadets to mark the 75th anniversary year of the Air Training Corps.

Kate attended a thanksgiving service at the RAF church of St Clement Danes in central London and a special reception where she told Cadet Warrant Officer Lucinda Conder that she has shown George pictures of Spitfires.

Ms Conder, 19, the top female cadet, said: "He is now obsessed with the air cadets and wants to join. We are going to have to push that one when he gets to 12."

Kate assumed her new role with the Air Cadets in December, taking on the post from the Duke of Edinburgh who had been involved in the organisation for more than 60 years.

For the first time in the unit's history there is now a female Commandant in Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, a female ambassador to the RAF Cadets in TV personality Carol Vorderman, and a royal female patron in Kate.

Vorderman, whose daughter Katie joined the Air Cadets, believes Kate will be a big help in attracting women into what is often seen as a male-dominated sector.

She said: "I think it is fantastic. Obviously Kate is possibly the most famous woman internationally - I would imagine.

"Her husband is a flier. Her brother-in-law is a flier. Her father-in-law is a flier and her mum used to work in an airline. There is a strong aviation link there for her. She obviously has a great appreciation of the military and enthusiasm for youth.

"We have 42,000 Air Cadets now and they say it gives them a structure and something they are very proud to belong to and to serve in.

"It really does impact young lives very positively and I am just thrilled Kate wants to be a part of it."

Kate chatted to the cadets, veterans and adult volunteers about their many programmes and activities.

She wore a Wedgwood blue Alexander McQueen coat but also proudly sported the ruby and diamond Dacre brooch, awarded over the past 35 years to the best female cadet, on her shoulder.

To bring the women in line with the men, the brooch has now been retired from this use. Like their colleagues, the top female cadet will receive a sword to mark their achievements. Ms Conder, of Hammersmith, west London, is the current and final brooch winner.

The RAF Air Cadets comprises both the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Combined Cadet Force (RAF).

The ATC was first established in 1941 during the Second World War, with the aim of training young men in aviation skills before they joined the RAF.