Prince William and Prince Harry in 2009.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty

King Charlesannouncednew military appointmentsfor the royal family on Friday — and one ofPrince William’s new titles has a strong connection toPrince Harry.
The King, 74, bestowed three new military appointments to his eldest son and heir: Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Valley — where he served as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue Force.
As Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, Prince William, 41, is now a leader of his brother Prince Harry’s former unit. Harry, 38, passed his Army Air Corps “Grading” and Pilot’s Selection Board interview in 2008 before training as an Army Air Corps pilot in 2009, according to theroyal family’s website.
“On successful completion of that Army Pilots Course, Prince Harry was selected to train on the Apache Attack Helicopter,” the Duke of Sussex’s bio says. “On the same day, it was announced that Prince Harry received his provisional wings from his father,” as Charles was Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps at the time.
Prince Harry undertook two tours of Afghanistan — as a Forward Air Controller from 2007 to 2008 and as an Apache Pilot from 2012 to 2013. During his time in the unit, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011.
Prince William and Prince Harry in 2009.Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harrywas stripped of his three honorary military titles(Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command) after he and his wife,Meghan Markle, stepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020. The titles reverted to the crown.
AtQueen Elizabeth’s funeral in September, many members of the royal family sported military uniforms but Prince Harrywore a suit.
An exception was made when Queen Elizabeth’s eight grandchildren stood a symbolic vigil at her coffin during her lying-in-state.Harry worehis military uniform"at the King’s request,“according to a palace source.
Prince Harry and Prince William at Queen Elizabeth’s lying-in-state in Sept. 2022.AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty

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In Friday’s announcement of the new military appointments for the working members of the royal family,Kate Middletonreceived three new titles from King Charles. The couple shared a video on their joint social media pages announcing the new titles.
“An honour to serve our new military affiliations across the@royalnavy@britisharmyand@royalairforceuk🎖️” their team captioned the posts.
The last appointment is especially sentimental for Princess Kate, as one of her grandfathers served in the Royal Air Force.
Kate Middleton in March 2023.Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburghalso picked up one of Prince Andrew’s former military affiliations. Prince Edward’s wife is now Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Queen Camillapreviously took over as Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers (the regiment her late father, Major Bruce Shand, served with during World War II) andColonel of the Grenadier Guards, other roles that previously belonged to Prince Andrew.
King Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne in 2018.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty

DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
source: people.com