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Major snub for Prince Harry as Charles makes William the leader of helicopter unit

Prince William has stepped into the leadership role over Prince Harry’s former military helicopter unit, in a move described as a ‘burn’ to the Duke of Sussex.

Prince William is new Colonel-in-Chief of Army Air Corps

King Charles has officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of Britain’s Army Air Corps to his eldest son and heir to the throne, Prince William.

The Army Air Corps is the regiment in which Prince Harry served until 2014, including active service in Afghanistan.

Prince William stands in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. Picture: Getty Images
Prince William stands in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. Picture: Getty Images

In what is being seen as a very public affront to his estranged youngest son – who has wrapped up his visit to Nigeria with wife Meghan Markle — the King met Prince William in front of an Apache helicopter for the formal handover at Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, in Hampshire, England.

Prince William sits in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter. Picture: AFP
Prince William sits in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry stands in front of with his father at the same aviation centre in 2011. Picture: MoD via Getty Images
Prince Harry stands in front of with his father at the same aviation centre in 2011. Picture: MoD via Getty Images

Charles and William appeared in high spirits at the army camp standing in front of the helicopter which is identical to the type the Duke of Sussex flew on his second tour of Afghanistan when he was an Apache pilot with the regiment.

King Charles and Prince William, Prince of Wales during the official handover. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
King Charles and Prince William, Prince of Wales during the official handover. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
King Charles and Prince William walk beside an armed Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre following a hand over ceremony for the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. Picture: AFP
King Charles and Prince William walk beside an armed Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre following a hand over ceremony for the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. Picture: AFP

The rare union of the King and the Prince of Wales came days after the monarch told Harry he was “too busy” to see him when he was visiting London last week celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games tournament he set up.

On Monday the King, wearing a silver suit, and William, in navy, were seen sharing a brief but touching hug for the official handover on an overcast day at the army base.

Prince William speaks to service personal at the Army Aviation Centre. Picture: AFP
Prince William speaks to service personal at the Army Aviation Centre. Picture: AFP

Prince William received the honour because he is a working member of the royal family and Prince Harry is not, after relinquishing his royal duties in 2020.

Both brothers are trained military pilots yet Harry personally served in the Army Air Corps as a gunner during his second tour of Afghanistan until 2014 and qualified as an Apache commander in 2012.

He also completed a five-month tour of Afghanistan where he flew the helicopter until January 2013.

The role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps has been conferred upon Prince William at the Army Aviation Centre. Picture: Getty Images
The role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps has been conferred upon Prince William at the Army Aviation Centre. Picture: Getty Images

As the future heir apparent, Prince William was never granted approval to be in active conflict during his time in the military.

He was attached to the RAF’s 202 Squadron, and spent three years at RAF Valley in Wales as a search and rescue pilot before becoming an air ambulance pilot.

At the ceremony the King, who arrived by helicopter, told the Army Air Corps that it will go from “strength to strength” under the helm of the Prince of Wales, and described him as a “very good pilot indeed”.

King Charles officially hands over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, England. Picture: AFP
King Charles officially hands over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, England. Picture: AFP

After unveiling a bronze plaque honouring the first Apache AH Mk.1 displayed in a British museum, His Majesty said he was saddened to relinquish the role that has given him “a great joy”.

“All I can say is that having had the pleasure of knowing you for so long, I do hope you’ll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new Colonel-in-Chief.

“The great thing is he’s a very good pilot indeed, so that’s encouraging,” he said.

Images of Prince William in his flying days were shared by Kensington Palace.

“His Majesty the King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement issued last week.

“In August 2023, following His Majesty’s Accession, the King was pleased to announce military appointments including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.”

The statement went on: “The role was previously held by His Majesty the King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.”

The King talked to veterans and families and toured the Army Flying Museum.

Prince William speaks to service personnel at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. Picture: AFP
Prince William speaks to service personnel at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. Picture: AFP
Prince William after King Charles officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to him. Picture: AFP
Prince William after King Charles officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to him. Picture: AFP

Prince William then changed from his navy blue suit and tie and donned military apparel to meet with the personnel at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop.

Prince William receives advice as he sits in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter. Picture: AFP
Prince William receives advice as he sits in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry wears his monocle gun sight as he sits in the front seat of his cockpit of an Apache helicopter on November 2, 2012 in Afghanistan. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harry wears his monocle gun sight as he sits in the front seat of his cockpit of an Apache helicopter on November 2, 2012 in Afghanistan. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images

He then got into the cockpit of an Apache helicopter and was photographed in a manner similar to his brother, Prince Harry, during his service in Afghanistan in 2012. Prince Harry served as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps, at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan, from September 2012 for four months until January 2013.

The King posted to his social media accounts to commemorate the occasion, saying that it was, for him, “tinged with great sadness”.

Originally published as Major snub for Prince Harry as Charles makes William the leader of helicopter unit

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/major-snub-for-prince-harry-as-charles-makes-william-the-leader-of-helicopter-unit/news-story/ab4e3a236d34ee7fad40197a129ae409