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.
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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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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”.
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.
🚠Time flies! Looking back at the last two visits to @ArmyAirCorps in 1999 and 2008 ahead of today’s handover at Middle Wallop. pic.twitter.com/JUbFHxRZ6Q
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 13, 2024
“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 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.
The King met veterans, serving personnel and their families before the hand-over, which took place against the backdrop of an Apache AH Mk.1 which carried troops in the Battle of Jugroom Fort, Afghanistan in 2007. pic.twitter.com/9xBLPAgRPK
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 13, 2024
“Let me just say what a great joy it is to be with you even briefly on this occasion but also it is tinged with great sadness after 32 years of knowing you all, admiring your many activities and achievements through the time that I’ve been lucky enough to be Colonel-in-Chief of… pic.twitter.com/8AMnU2OY1b
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 13, 2024
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”.
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