King Charles Seemingly Snubs Prince Harry With Prince William's New Role
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 14: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince William, Prince of Wales and King Charles III walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it is transported on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to The Palace of Westminster ahead of her Lying-in-State on September 14, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
King Charles is set to transition one of his many titles over to his eldest son, Prince William, according to multiple reports, and some royal watchers are viewing the newest transition of power as another snub to his youngest, Prince Harry.
The Independent is one of several publications reporting that Buckingham Palace has announced that "His Majesty the King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales”—a role that Charles held as the former Prince of Wales for over 30 years.
The news came just hours after it was revealed that the monarch would not be making time to see Harry during his brief return to the UK for the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games, an international sports competition for ill or wounded serving and veteran military personnel, making it the second public dig at Harry in as many days.
While both brothers spent time as pilots in the British military, only Harry saw active combat, serving in the Army Air Corps during his second tour of Afghanistan. According to the publication, his commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tom de la Rue, praised him for "reach[ing] the pinnacle of flying excellence" during his time with the corps, calling him "a real inspiration to the many Army Air Corps officers and soldiers who have come to know him so well.”
Meanwhile, as heir to the throne, William never served in active combat, though he did fly as both a search and rescue and air ambulance pilot.
Naturally, the move is being viewed as a snub toward the Duke of Sussex, who stepped back as a senior royal in 2020. It's assumed that if he hadn't, he would have received the honor, instead.
