King Charles officially names Prince William new Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps in latest snub of estranged son Prince Harry
King Charles has officially named Prince William as the new lead of Prince Harry’s old army regiment in a major snub of the 39-year-old, as the monarch candidly opened up to a veteran about a side effect of his cancer treatment.
King Charles awards first royal warrants
King Charles III has presented Prince William with a special military title linked to Prince Harry’s old regiment, as the 75-year-old candidly opened up about his cancer treatment.
The monarch on Monday bestowed his eldest son with the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps during a ceremony at the Army Aviation Centre in Hampshire, south-east England.
The senior role is of great significance to the King as he previously held the title for 31 years before ascending to the throne in August 2023.
This means Prince William is now leading the army unit which his estranged brother Prince Harry served in until 2014 during his tours of Afghanistan.
King Charles has handed over the reins of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to his son Prince William. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
King Charles has handed over the reins of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to his son Prince William. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
The monarch also spoke to service personnel at the Army Aviation Centre during the special visit on Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
The monarch also spoke to service personnel at the Army Aviation Centre during the special visit on Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
The King also spoke to service personnel at the army airfield base on Monday, including veteran Aaron Mapplebeck who underwent chemotherapy himself last year, according to The Sun.
The pair reportedly discussed how they had both experienced the side effect of a loss of taste from receiving cancer treatment.
Photos from the ceremony on Monday showed the King officially present Prince William with the beret and belt of the Army Air Corps as the duo stood in front of an Apache helicopter.
“Having 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,” King Charles told the regiment.
Prince William then flew in an Apache helicopter after a quick briefing, marking his first engagement as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.
Prince Harry served as a Apache helicopter commander during his second tour of Afghanistan from 2012 and 2013.
Prince William now holds the military title his father held before him for more than three decades. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
Prince William now holds the military title his father held before him for more than three decades. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
Prince William flew in an Apache helicopter after being named the new Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
Prince William flew in an Apache helicopter after being named the new Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool
King Charles has only recently returned to royal duties following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, while Prince William has also just stepped back into the full swing of official engagements after news broke of his wife’s own health battle.
Princess Catherine announced in March she was receiving preventative chemotherapy after tests showed cancer was present following abdominal surgery in January.
“This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly took their young family to Norfolk for some downtime during the Easter break before William returned to royal duties on April 18.
