Charles hails ‘very good pilot’ William as he hands over military role

The Prince of Wales has been appointed Colonel-in-Chief of Harry’s former unit

King Charles today hailed Prince William as ‘a very good pilot’ as he handed over command of the Army Air Corps to his son.

But there was no mention of his other son Prince Harry who flew Apache helicopters before going on two tours of Afghanistan.

The King officially appointed his heir to the throne as Colonel-in-Chief of the Duke of Sussex’s former unit at a special ceremony.

The 75-year-old monarch and the Prince of Wales stood in front of an Apache – the kind co-piloted by Harry in Afghanistan – as Charles handed over the role he had held for 31 years in front of the Middle Wallop Control Tower.

Charles – who became the inaugural holder of the title – arrived by helicopter at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, to meet with his eldest son in a rare joint official engagement.
In an unscripted speech, the King said: ‘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.’

William will represent the Army’s airborne wing, including his brother’s former unit – 662 Squadron.

Harry served in the regiment as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, and it was widely thought he would have taken the role until he made the decision to step back from royal life in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to land at London Heathrow later today after their ‘quasi-royal’ tour of Nigeria before heading back to Los Angeles and their £12million Montecito mansion.

Today, the King was met by a Guard of Honour and Lieutenant General Sir Nicholas Borton, Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Corps, before meeting veterans and their families at the base.

During his visit, Charles revealed he has lost his sense of taste during cancer treatment.

He was speaking to British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck, who told the King he underwent chemotherapy last year for testicular cancer and that he lost his sense of taste – and Charles revealed this had also happened to him.

The King said it was a ‘great joy’ to meet servicemen, their families and veterans at an earlier visit to the Army Flying Museum.

He unveiled a plaque commemorating an Apache AH Mk.1 going on display, the first of its kind to be installed at a UK museum.

The aircraft was one of four involved in a rescue mission during the Battle of Jugroom Fort in 2007.

He said: ‘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 the Army Air Corps.’

General Nick Barton, who took part in the rescue operation, said it was a ‘unique honour’ to meet the King who served as an important ‘figurehead’ for the soldiers.

The Army Air Corps is the Duke of Sussex’s old unit, in which he served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner during his second tour to Afghanistan in 2012.

William will embark on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps later in the afternoon, receiving a briefing on its work and inspecting training and operational aircraft as well as talking to soldiers.

He will then leave the base in an Apache as part of a capability flight.

The King trained with the RAF while in his second year at the University of Cambridge and was given his wings in August 1971.

William served in the Army with the Blues and Royals and was an RAF search and rescue pilot for three years at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales.

Last Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles would officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to William at the Army Aviation Centre, where Harry previously learnt to fly.

The change was announced last August following the coronation in May as part of a number of new military appointments.

After His Majesty departed, William embarked on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps as Colonel-in-Chief, receiving a briefing on its work, meeting staff, families and inspecting operational aircraft.

He also got the opportunity to fly in an Apache helicopter.

William served as a Platoon Commander in The Blues and Royals, before completing flying training in the Royal Air Force and working as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.

The announcement by Buckingham Palace last Tuesday came just two hours after Harry’s spokesman said the King was too busy to see his youngest son during his whistlestop trip to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex was in London for three days last week but was unable to meet his father, saying that this was ‘due to His Majesty’s full programme’.

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King Charles today hailed Prince William as ‘a very good pilot’ as he handed over command of the Army Air Corps to his son at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire
King Charles today hailed Prince William as ‘a very good pilot’ as he handed over command of the Army Air Corps to his son at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire © Provided by Daily Mail
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The King shares a smile with William as he officially appoints his heir to the throne as Colonel-in-Chief of the Duke of Sussex’s former unit at a special ceremony
The King shares a smile with William as he officially appoints his heir to the throne as Colonel-in-Chief of the Duke of Sussex’s former unit at a special ceremony © Provided by Daily Mail
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But there was no mention of his other son Prince Harry who flew Apache helicopters before going on two tours of Afghanistan (Harry pictured here in 2012 sitting in the front seat of his cockpit)
But there was no mention of his other son Prince Harry who flew Apache helicopters before going on two tours of Afghanistan (Harry pictured here in 2012 sitting in the front seat of his cockpit) © Provided by Daily Mail
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King Charles III poses with service personal after he officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today
King Charles III poses with service personal after he officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today © Provided by Daily Mail
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Prince Harry stands in front of an Apache helicopter in 2011 at Middle Wallop in Hampshire
Prince Harry stands in front of an Apache helicopter in 2011 at Middle Wallop in Hampshire © Provided by Daily Mail
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Prince William speaks to service personal at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today
Prince William speaks to service personal at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today © Provided by Daily Mail
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Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon
Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon © Provided by Daily Mail
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King Charles III speaks to veterans at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today
King Charles III speaks to veterans at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop today © Provided by Daily Mail
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Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon
Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon © Provided by Daily Mail
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King Charles III unveils a plaque during a visit to Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop today
King Charles III unveils a plaque during a visit to Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop today © Provided by Daily Mail
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Prince William on the flight deck of a helicopter during a visit to the Army Air Corps in 2008
Prince William on the flight deck of a helicopter during a visit to the Army Air Corps in 2008 © Provided by Daily Mail
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Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon
Charles and William at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, this afternoon © Provided by Daily Mail
Related video: King Charles hands military role to William (Dailymotion)

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