King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry walking© Getty

King Charles to give Prince William new senior role in special ceremony after failed Prince Harry reunion

The Duke of Sussex is in the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games

Deputy Online Editor
May 8, 2024

King Charles is set to meet with Prince William to hand over an important role to him. Buckingham Palace has confirmed the monarch will hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to his eldest son, the Prince of Wales. 

The father-and-son duo will take part in a joint engagement on 13 May at the Army Flying Museum for the momentous appointment. News of this special meeting comes just as King Charles will not be able to meet his youngest son Prince Harry during his brief visit to the UK this week. 

King Charles and Prince William in feathered hats© Pool/Samir Hussein
King Charles is expected to take part in a joint engagement with Prince William

The Duke of Sussex, 39, arrived in the UK on Tuesday ahead of the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, which he will mark at a ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday. 

HELLO! understands the Duke will not meet with his father during his visit to the UK this week "due to His Majesty's full programme". A source said: "The Duke of course is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon." 

© Chris Jackson
Prince Harry arrived in the UK on Tuesday

On the topic of the father-and-son not being able to meet, HELLO!'s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, said: "To an outsider it may seem odd that they can't make time for a meeting, but the King is head of state and has his diary planned months in advance - so it wasn't a given that it would happen, with Harry only here for a couple of days. 

"It will inevitably lead to speculation over the state of their relationship, which has come under pressure over the past few years." 

The last time King Charles and Prince Harry enjoyed a reunion was back in February, just moments after His Majesty announced his cancer diagnosis to the world. 

Next week's engagement with William, 42, will see King Charles unveiling a plaque which commemorates the arrival of the first Apache AH Mk.1 to be installed in a UK museum. 

After departing The Army Flying Museum, King Charles, 75, will walk across the airfield to the Middle Wallop Control Tower. Here, in front of an Apache, King Charles will be met by the Prince of Wales to officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.

© WPA Pool
Prince William is unlikely to meet with Prince Harry this week

Together, King Charles and Prince William will have an opportunity to meet serving aircrew in front of the Apache. After His Majesty has departed, Prince William will embark on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps as Colonel-in-Chief. 

A timeline of King Charles' recent health journey

Wednesday 17th January - Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. 

Thursday 25th January - The King carried out behind-the-scenes official duties at Sandringham House. 

The King arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment.

Friday 26th January - The King is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits Princess Kate, who is recovering in the same hospital. 

Monday 29th January - The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. 

Wednesday 31st January - Camilla says the King is "getting on, doing his best" as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. 

Sunday 4th February - The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. 

Monday 5th February - At 6pm, Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer - but not prostate cancer - and has started treatment as an outpatient. 

He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind-the-scenes state business and official papers.

The Prince will first receive a briefing on the Army Air Corps' current work from the Colonel Commandant, Lieutenant General Sir Nicholas Borton. He will then view training and operational aircraft used by the Army Air Corps and meet the aircrew and the supporting ground staff. 

The Prince will also hear from soldiers across a range of roles within the regiment that are involved in supporting operations. For the final part of his engagement, Prince William will depart the base by embarking on an Apache capability flight to deepen his understanding of the capabilities of the equipment and to learn more about the people that fly and support it.

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