PRINCE William yesterday took control of warring brother Harry’s old Army Air Corps unit.
Wills, 41, went for a spin in an Apache chopper after King Charlesappointed him Colonel-in-Chief.
Prince William took control of the Apache helicopter today[/caption] It came after King Charles and his son shared a sweet moment together at the symbolic passing of the baton[/caption] The monarch officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Wills[/caption] The King was all smiles as he arrived at the centre in Middle Wallop[/caption]The Prince flew in identical chopper to one that brother Harry flew during the Afghanistan war.
The King also discussed losing the sense of taste during his cancer treatment while speaking to an Army veteran who has had chemo for testicular cancer.
The ceremony at the Army Aviation Centre, Hampshire, was a rare joint engagement for the monarch and his elder son.
Charles arrived by helicopter and went on a walkabout to greet Union Jack-waving pupils from nearby Middle Wallop School.
Inside the regiment’s base the King chatted to soldiers including Aaron Mapplebeck who touchingly spoke about his own cancer fight.
The King, who became the unit’s Colonel-in-Chief 32 years ago, then walked to the control tower for the formal handing over of the title to William.
He told service personnel: “I did just want to say what a great joy it is to be with you.
“But also, it’s tinged with great sadness after 32 years of knowing you all.”
The King spoke of his “immense admiration” for the unit’s operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He added: “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.”
There was no mention in his speech of wayward Harry, who he did not have time to meet in London last week.
The King and Harry had flown together in an Apache at the same base in March 2011.
If Harry and wife Meghan had not stepped down as working royals then the ceremonial appointment would likely have been his.
Yesterday the California-based couple ended their “faux-royal” tour of Nigeria.
William, a trained military pilot, sat in the Apache cockpit and was briefed on its capabilities before a fellow airman flew the aircraft.
The Prince missed active service due to the direct line of succession. But he flew Sea Kings with the Navy’s search and rescue team, and while working with East Anglia Air Ambulance.
William also discussed the unit’s work with its Colonel Commandant, Lt-Gen Sir Nicholas Borton.
And the King unveiled a plaque marking the arrival of the first Apache AH Mk 1 at the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop.
William took off in a helicopter after he was made leader of the Army Air Corps[/caption] Charles chats to staff and veterans at the Army Aviation Centre[/caption] King Charles III hands over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William[/caption] King Charles greets his eldest son Prince William at the handover of his role[/caption]Harry 'distressed' by handover 'snub'
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun:
It is absolutely no doubt [a snub towards Harry].
I think that Harry will be distressed by this.
Undoubtedly it’s something that he’s takes very personally, we know that what he’s done for the military family, for the Invictus games, which is a wonderful thing, and of course this featured a great deal in their visit, which was private to Nigeria.
But the fact simply is that the King is making somebody he trusts colonel in chief.
I mean this can generously be described as a mess, but it’s a serious issue, because it it tends to show that communication has gone totally haywire, and that’s a generous interpretation of it.
I frankly can see why the Sussexes haven’t been trusted.
Prince Harry and Prince William's military experience
Harry served with the British Army for ten years where he rose to the rank of Captain.
He carried out two tours of Afghanistan including a two-month stint in Helmand.
The Duke of Sussex was then promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with The Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) on April 13, 2008.
Harry later qualified as an Apache helicopter commander in 2013 after three years of training with the Army Air Corps.
While on a five-month tour in Afghanistan, he served as a co-pilot gunner sharing flying duties and taking control of the weapons of the two-man Apache.
William served seven years in the military, with more than three years as a search and rescue pilot.
He left the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 2013 as a rescue pilot to focus on charity interests.
After leaving operational duties with the Armed Forces, Prince William retrained to become an air ambulance pilot.
William worked with the East Anglian Air Ambulance in 2015.
But in January 2017, Kensington Palace announced that he would be completing his work with his last shift on July 15.