dpa
London
Britain’s King Charles officially handed over the role of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William during a visit to its Hampshire airfield.
Charles - who became the inaugural holder of the title 32 years ago - met with his eldest son in a rare joint official engagement at the Middle Wallop base on Monday afternoon to transfer the role. 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.
The king’s decision to hand the role to William was seen as a blow to Harry when it was announced last year.
The king said it was a "great joy” to meet servicemen, their families and veterans at an earlier visit to the Army Flying Museum but added the handover was "tinged with great sadness.” He 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.” 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. William embarked on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps after the king left, receiving a briefing on its work and inspecting training and operational aircraft as well as talking to soldiers.