PRINCE William’s new role seemed deliberately timed to antagonize Harry – but King Charles could easily diffuse it, a royal expert has claimed.
Royal correspondent Jack Royston spoke to The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show about Charles’ recent disregard for his youngest son at the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
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He told The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson: “I think the public perception will be that it was deliberately programmed to antagonize Harry.
“Even if that’s not the case, they probably should have tried to move him.
I think Harry will be distressed by this
Richard Fitzwilliams
“But they can, let’s assume for the sake of argument, that it was all just coincidence, they can diffuse this whole situation.
“All Charles would have to do, it could be as simple as making an offhand comment, all he would have to say is ‘oh yeah, my son was co-pilot gunner on one of those in Afghanistan. He served his country. ‘”
It comes as King Charles appointed Prince William as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps today.
Her Majesty, 75, and Wills, 41, shared a touching moment in front of an Apache helicopter as the prince was officially named leader of Harry’s former helicopter unit.
The monarch looked excellent as he spoke to staff and veterans at the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
He smiled as he waved to royal fans and laughed with his eldest son.
The father-son duo looked proud as they stood during the symbolic passing of the baton.
They posed in front of a helicopter, the same one that Harry flew on duty on his second tour of Afghanistan until 2014.
William, who flew with the Air Ambulance, is later expected to take off in the Apache.
Charles also unveiled a ceremonial plaque commemorating an Apache helicopter on display at the museum.
‘TRUE INSPIRATION’
Meanwhile, Harry was in the Army Air Corps (AAC) for over three years and qualified as an Apache commander in 2012.
He undertook a five-month operational tour in Afghanistan, during which he piloted the helicopter until January 2013.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom de la Rue, who commanded Harry in the Army Air Corps, previously said how the royal was a “true inspiration to many officers and soldiers in the Army Air Corps”.
Fellow royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also exclusively told The Sun how Harry would have been “distressed” by today’s ceremony.
Prince Harry and Prince William’s military experience
Harry served in the British Army for ten years, where he rose to the rank of captain.
He completed two tours in Afghanistan, including a two-month stint in Helmand.
The Duke of Sussex was then promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in The Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) on 13 April 2008.
Harry later qualified as an Apache helicopter commander in 2013 after three years of training in the Army Air Corps.
During a five-month tour in Afghanistan, he served as co-pilot gunner, sharing flying duties and taking control of the weapons of the two-man Apache.
William served seven years in the army, more than three years as a search and rescue pilot.
He left the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 2013 as a rescue pilot to focus on charitable interests.
After leaving operational duties in the Armed Forces, Prince William retrained to become an air ambulance pilot.
William worked with the East Anglian Air Ambulance in 2015.
But in January 2017, Kensington Palace announced that it would complete its work with its last shift on July 15.
He said, “There’s no doubt [a snub towards Harry].
“I think Harry will be distressed by this.
“Without a doubt it is something that he takes very personally, we know what he did for the military family, for the Invictus games, which is a wonderful thing, and of course this was very prominent in their visit, which was private to Nigeria .
“But the fact is that the king is appointing someone he trusts as colonel-in-chief.
“I mean, this could be generously described as a mess, but it’s a serious problem because it tends to show that communication has gone completely out of control, and that’s a generous interpretation of that.
“Frankly, I can see why the Sussexes are not trusted.”
It comes after the duke claimed his father was “too busy” to schedule a meeting when he returned to the UK last week.
A spokesman for Harry said: “Unfortunately this will not be possible due to Her Majesty’s full programme.”
Harry headed across the pond to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8.
And just three miles away, King Charles was hosting the first of his famous garden parties at Buckingham Palace.
But the pair did not reunite, much to the shock of royal commentators.
Many expected them to meet after Harry’s transatlantic trip in February when his father’s cancer diagnosis was announced.
‘COLLECTIONS MAY VARY’
Since then, there has been rampant speculation surrounding the snub.
Some friends claim Charles offered to put Harry up in a royal residence – but the duke refused.
Once stated, the source added how “recollections may vary once again” regarding rumors that Charles “refused” to make room in his busy schedule.
While other insiders insist Harry did his best to arrange a meeting with his father.
The optics of the Duke’s visit worsened when the King later decided to hold a private meeting with David Beckham.
The football legend was once an ambassador for the Invictus Games, but has become estranged from Harry in recent years following the Spare fallout and attacks on the Royal Family.
Amid rising tensions, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex presented a united front during their visit to Nigeria.
Harry was seen smiling with wife Meghan on their three-day trip – in which they danced with schoolchildren and met with residents and local officials.
It was Harry and Meghan’s first trip to Nigeria as a couple, although they did go on a royal tour to southern Africa in 2019 when they were working for the royals.
During their visit, Meghan and Harry were due to visit three cities in their efforts to get the country to host the Invictus Games in 2029.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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