Britain’s King Charles handed over key military responsibilities to his son Prince William in a ceremony on Monday, a rare joint appearance for the pair as the king steps up to return to public duties after being diagnosed with cancer.
Charles awarded William the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Army Air Forces in front of an Apache helicopter, a position the 75-year-old king has held for 32 years, in a ceremony held at the Military Aviation College in southern England with military personnel watching of museum.
“He was a really good pilot,” Charles said of his son, a former RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.
Charles’ visit to the Military Aviation Museum was his latest public appearance since returning to duty at the end of April last year, some three months after Buckingham Palace announced he was undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer.
At the handover ceremony, Charles said he was “sad” to say goodbye to the title but that the Army Air Corps would “continue to grow” under his son’s leadership. He added: “Take care of yourselves, I can’t tell you how proud I am to continue to work with you.”
The title transfer was announced after Charles ascended the throne last August. Later on Monday, William spent time at Air Force Headquarters, touring training and equipment and listening to speeches by soldiers.
