Following the accession of His Majesty The King, he has directed the following Royal Military Affiliations for members of the Royal Family with the Royal Air Force.
The appointments are part of several announced across the Services by Buckingham Palace today, following a review of all military titles and positions held by members of the Royal Family.
His Majesty The King will adopt:
· Royal Honorary Air Commodore R.A.F. Marham from The late Queen
· Air Commodore-in-Chief R.A.F. Regiment from The late Queen.
The King, as Sovereign, is Head of the Armed Forces. His Majesty is a military veteran himself, having trained and served in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will adopt:
· Royal Honorary Air Commodore R.A.F. Valley from The King.
The Prince of Wales has a strong affiliation with the Armed Forces, having served in the Army as a Platoon Commander in the Blues and Royals, before completing flying in the Royal Air Force. His Royal Highness served as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, spending three years at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales.
Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales will adopt:
· Royal Honorary Air Commodore R.A.F. Coningsby from The Prince of Wales.
The Princess of Wales’s existing military appointments include Colonel, Irish Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Air Cadets. Her Royal Highness is also sponsor of HMS Glasgow – the Royal Navy’s Type 26 vessel that is currently under construction. The Princess’ Grandfather served in the Royal Air Force.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will adopt:
· Air Commodore-in-Chief Royal Auxiliary Air Force from The late Queen.
The Duke of Gloucester has been Patron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation since 2012. His Royal Highness’ mother, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was Commandant of the Womens’ Auxiliary Air Force from 1939 to 1944.