Prince William has been appointed as Colonel-in-Chief of the British Army Air Force, succeeding King Charles in this role. This announcement has sparked controversy as some believe that Prince Harry, who served in the regiment and is also a trained military pilot, should have been the one to succeed Charles. The timing of this announcement, while Harry was visiting Britain and hoping to resolve matters with his father, added insult to injury as he was met with a refusal due to the king’s busy schedule.
Both brothers are trained military pilots, with Harry serving in the Air Force during his second tour in Afghanistan until 2014. Prince William, on the other hand, served as a search and rescue pilot and later as an air ambulance pilot. Despite their similar backgrounds and experiences in the military, Charles’ decision to appoint William rather than Harry comes at a time when Harry was also overlooked for a meeting with the king during his visit to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The palace statement mentioned that the official handover of the post of Colonel-in-Chief will take place in August 2023 after the end of King Charles’ reign. It highlighted Prince Harry’s achievements as an Apache pilot and his positive impact on the Air Force during his service. However, some argue that these accolades do not excuse Charles’ decision to give the title to Prince William instead of his brother who was involved in combat during his military service.
This decision by Charles has added to recent disappointments for Prince Harry, including the lack of a meeting with the king during his visit and a lack of attendance by royal family members at events he participated in. Despite past meetings between Harry and his father, strained relations persist as the future of the royal family remains unclear.