Prince William makes 'family jibe' as he visits Prince Harry's former regiment

Edinburgh Live

2 days ago

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Prince William showcased his lighter side during a visit to the Army Air Corp (AAC), his estranged brother Prince Harry's former regiment, where he jokingly quipped about not all families being keen on spending time together.
The Prince of Wales, attired in military uniform, also vowed to address the accommodation concerns of AAC troops and their loved ones as he handed out breakfast treats.
As part of his role as Colonel-in-Chief, William demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of AAC personnel and assured them that their accommodation issues would be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities. In a lighthearted moment, he teased a soldier about family time, remarking that "some of them might not want to see you that much – it's a mixed bag".
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William's visit to the AAC headquarters in Suffolk was marked by his arrival in a Wildcat Helicopter, an aircraft he's familiar with given his experience as a former RAF helicopter pilot and air ambulance flyer. During a break in an outdoor exercise session, he promised servicemen that he would raise their accommodation concerns, stating, "I'm going to have a chat about accommodation, make sure they look at that", though he also added that being heard was a different matter.
The prince was met with nothing but smiles when he inquired about accommodation from a group, prompting him to remark: "I'll take that away, a lot of smiles going on, that's all you need to say."
Later on, William stepped up as the server at the Archer's Breakfast, a 664 Squadron social gathering, dishing out bacon rolls and sausage baps and commenting on the tempting aroma, admitting it was "very good-smelling, making my mouth water", reports the Mirror.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Getty Images)
A queue of servicemen and their kin swiftly formed as they waited for the food, with William jokingly lamenting "nothing worse than the smell of bacon in the room and you cannot eat it".
During his visit outside the café, William engaged with the families of servicemen, including a conversation with the children of Warrant Officer Class 2 Matthew Foster, where eight year old Ida expressed her fondness for school and five year old Archie favoured playtime over lessons.
The prince wrapped up his engagement by recognising the service of soldiers with a King's Commendation for Valuable Service and celebrated the promotion of a few soldiers from Corporal to Sergeant. Notably, the AAC, comprising units such as 664 Squadron, is an integral part of the British Army's combat aviation forces, employing cutting-edge aircraft like the Wildcat and Apache Attack helicopters in their mission to locate and neutralise enemy threats.
In May 2024, Prince William took over as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps (AAC) from King Charles at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. The King, who was the inaugural holder of the title 33 years prior, met with his eldest son in a rare joint official engagement to transfer the role last year.
The AAC is Prince Harry's former unit, where he served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner during his second tour of Afghanistan in 2012. The decision by the King to pass the role to William was perceived as a slight to Harry when it was announced in 2023.
Currently, neither the King nor William are in contact with Harry due to an ongoing Royal dispute.