Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has chosen to appoint Prince William as Colonel-in-Chief of the British Army Air Force and will succeed Charles as the head of the regiment. The timing of this announcement is particularly unpleasant for Harry, as he was supposed to meet with his father to discuss matters during his visit to Britain, but was refused due to a “full schedule”. What makes the situation even more difficult for Harry is that he was the one who served in the regiment and should have been given the position if he had not left royal life in 2020.
The announcement stated that Prince William will take over the position from King Charles after his reign in August 2023. Both William and Harry are trained military pilots, with Harry serving in the Air Force during his time in Afghanistan until 2014. During his service, Harry was praised for his excellence as an Apache pilot and his inspiration to his fellow officers and soldiers. On the other hand, Prince William was not involved in combat during his military service but served as a search and rescue pilot and air ambulance pilot.
This decision by Charles to appoint William rather than Harry comes after the King’s refusal to meet with Harry during his current visit to Britain, marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Despite landing in Britain and giving a speech at St Paul’s Cathedral, none of the royal family members attended the event. This lack of support from the royal family adds to the strain on Harry, who last met with the King for a short time last February. The relationship between the two brothers continues to be complicated, especially with these recent events.
In summary, the appointment of Prince William as Colonel-in-Chief of the British Army Air Force over Harry has caused tensions in the royal family. The timing of the announcement and the refusal to meet with Harry during his visit to Britain have further strained his relationship with his father and brother. Harry’s contributions and service in the Air Force seem to have been overshadowed by these recent decisions, leading to a difficult situation for him within the family.