The king officially handed over the role of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William.
During a visit to Hampshire, Her Majesty also spoke to a veteran who had previously undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, discussing the loss of taste as a result of the treatment.
The King and Prince William were photographed smiling as they chatted during a visit to the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop on Monday.
It turns out that Kensington Palace posted two photos of the Prince of Wales when he was an Apache pilot.
“Time flies! Remembering the last two visits to @ArmyAirCorps in 1999 and 2008, before today’s transfer at Middle Wallop,” the X post read.
The Army Air Corps is the Duke of Sussex’s former unit, in which he served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner during his second tour of Afghanistan in 2012.
The decision to hand the role to William was seen as a blow to Harry when it was announced last year.
The king admitted that the transfer was “tinged with great sadness” – but hoped that the Army Air Corps would continue to grow “from strength to strength”.
He said: “Let me just say that it is a great joy to be with you, even if briefly, on this occasion, but it is also tinged with great sadness after 32 years of knowing you all, admiring your many activities and achievements over time. that I was fortunate to be colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps.
“I hope you will go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new colonel-in-chief.
“The best thing is that he’s a really good driver – that’s encouraging.”
William will embark on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps on Monday afternoon, receiving a briefing on his work and inspecting training and operational aircraft.
After speaking with soldiers, he will leave the base in an Apache as part of a capability flight.
Photo: Ben Birchall/PA
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Today’s royal visit from King – who received permission from his doctors to return to public duties last month – comes ahead of his first major investiture on Tuesday since his cancer diagnosis.
He will be knighted by the Archbishop of Canterbury for his key role in the coronation and will confer the title of dame on best-selling author Jilly Cooper.
The monarch will greet 52 recipients in total, one by one, at Windsor Castle.
The king, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, has bestowed honors on a handful of people in recent months.
However, these ceremonies took place in private during individual audiences in the royal residences.
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