Gina Heslop
The start of the last month brought a significant event for the British royal family. Prince Harry returned to London to honor the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, a cause close to his heart.
However, during his visit, an announcement from King Charles III created tension. The King appointed Prince William as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a position that once held great meaning for Harry.
The Palace’s official statement explained that the King passed the role to Prince William in August 2023, following his accession.
This role had been held by Charles himself for 31 years, back when he was the Prince of Wales. This decision caused a stir, as it coincided with Harry’s visit, and some viewed it as a deliberate move to highlight his separation from royal duties.
A royal expert, Tom Quinn, shared that Prince Harry was deeply upset upon hearing the news. “What makes it worse,” he noted, “is that the position was given to William, the person Harry sees as the source of many of his troubles.
According to Quinn, the timing of the announcement seemed calculated to send a message that Harry no longer has a place in the royal family.
This situation was especially painful for Harry because the Army Air Corps was a significant part of his life. In 2008, Harry completed training with the Army Air Corps, eventually qualifying as a pilot for Apache attack helicopters in 2009.
During this time, Charles, as Colonel-in-Chief, presented Harry with his provisional wings, making the moment even more meaningful.
The announcement also came during a period of strained relationships between Harry, his brother, and their father.
While Harry was in the UK, he and King Charles didn’t meet due to the King’s busy schedule. Still, Harry expressed hope for a future meeting, stating he looked forward to seeing his father soon.
Despite the tensions, Harry found joy in his visit. Speaking about his involvement with Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity supporting children of fallen military personnel, he described the event as “amazing.”
