Prince William has been bestowed with a new title by King Charles III, and it has certainly caused a stir. Previously, it was expected that this honor would go to his younger brother, Prince Harry, who had served with the Army Air Corps in Afghanistan. However, due to Prince Harry stepping down from his royal duties, the title was passed on to Prince William instead. This decision has raised many eyebrows.
Though both William and Harry are trained military pilots, it was Harry who actively served in the Army Air Corps during his second tour in Afghanistan. On the other hand, William’s military involvement did not include active combat. He served as a search and rescue pilot and later as an air ambulance pilot. Regardless, Prince William is now the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a role that his father held for the past 31 years.
According to a statement from Kensington Palace, King Charles III will officially hand over the role to his eldest son, Prince William, following His Majesty’s Accession in August 2023. The statement also mentioned that the appointment would have gone to Prince Harry if he hadn’t chosen to step down from his royal duties.
Coincidentally, the announcement was made on the same day Prince Harry arrived in the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, due to the king’s busy schedule, Prince Harry was unable to meet with his father during his visit. The two last saw each other in February when Harry rushed to be by his father’s side after learning of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis. It was reported that they spent 45 minutes together during that visit.
Do you believe the title would have gone to Prince Harry if he had not stepped down? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
