King Charles III Transfers Colonel-in-Chief Role to Prince William for Army Air Corps

King Charles III Transfers Colonel-in-Chief Role to Prince William for Army Air Corps

Witness King Charles III's joyful moment as he hands over the Colonel-in-Chief position of the Army Air Corps to Prince William

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

King Charles III has made a somewhat controversial decision by passing on the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William.

The father and son duo appeared happy and in good spirits as they visited the Army Aviation Centre in Stockbridge, Hampshire, England on Monday, May 13. Photos from the event captured Charles, 75, interacting with members of the air corps, shaking hands, and taking a stroll. The king also took the time to pose for pictures and chat with children who had gathered at the airstrip.

William, 41, joined Charles at one point during the event. The two stood in front of a military helicopter, where the king handed his son the air corps’ belt and light blue beret to symbolize his new role. The royal family members then took photos with military personnel. Despite the ongoing health crisis within the family, Charles and William appeared to be in good spirits as they laughed and walked together.

William's appointment as the new Colonel-in-Chief has been viewed as a slight to Prince Harry. It is likely that Harry would have received this honor if he had not left the royal family in 2020 with Meghan Markle.

Royal expert Christopher Andersen believes that William’s new title is a “tremendous insult” to Harry, 39. This comes after Harry’s recent trip to the U.K. to celebrate 10 years of the Invictus Games, where he did not meet with any royal family members despite his efforts.

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

Anderson shared with We that the King's actions were a double blow. Not only did he decline to meet with Harry, but he also decided to transfer one of Harry's titles to William. The title in question was the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Air Corps, and the King intended to make a significant gesture out of it.

Buckingham Palace announced William’s new role on the same day they confirmed that Charles would not meet with Harry when the king’s youngest son returned to the U.K. (According to a report from the Times on Sunday, May 12, Charles did offer Harry a place to stay during his recent trip, but Harry declined.)

Despite the ongoing snubs, Andersen believes that Harry is still "one of the great assets of the royal family," especially with both Charles and Princess Kate Middleton currently undergoing cancer treatment.

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

King Charles III Passes the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps Role to Prince William

Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Anderson mentioned that all he wants is to have a part-time role to help out while the King and Princess of Wales are battling cancer. He expressed his concern about how they do not want to involve Harry or Meghan, seeing it as a missed opportunity for them to help during this crisis.

Editor's P/S:

The passing of the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps role to Prince William from King Charles III has sparked controversy, with some viewing it as a snub to Prince Harry. Royal expert Christopher Andersen believes it is a "tremendous insult" to Harry, who would likely have received this honor had he not left the royal family. The decision may have been influenced by Harry's recent visit to the UK, during which he failed to meet with any royal family members.

Despite the ongoing tension, Andersen suggests that Harry remains a valuable asset to the royal family, especially given the current health challenges faced by both King Charles and Princess Kate Middleton. He advocates for a part-time role for Harry to assist during this crisis, recognizing that the family's decision to exclude him represents a missed opportunity for support.