King Charles appoints Prince William to command Prince Harry's former regiment

Buckingham Palace has declared that the Prince of Wales would assume leadership of the regiment, marking a further setback for Harry during his short visit to the UK. 

The Independent reported on Tuesday that Harry would probably have received this honor had he not decided to resign as a working royal member in 2020.

Although both brothers are trained military pilots, Harry served directly in the Army Air Corps during his second deployment in Afghanistan until 2014.

“His Majesty the King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” the palace said in a statement.

“In August 2023, following His Majesty’s Accession, the King was pleased to announce military appointments including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. The role was previously held by His Majesty the King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.”

As the next in line to the throne, Prince William did not participate in direct combat during his military tenure. Instead, he fulfilled roles as a search and rescue pilot and later as an air ambulance pilot.

The rebuff follows recent news that the King will not meet his youngest son during his ongoing visit to the UK, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.