When King Charles and Queen Camilla stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for his coronation day, they were joined by several members of the Royal family – including Prince William, Princess Kate, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Prince Richard and Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester.
It gave the world a clear view of what the working Royal family looks like now that King Charles has taken over – his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on September 8, 2022, marking the dawn of a new age for the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms (all of them except New Zealand).
King Charles has announced a major reshuffle of military appointments for working members of the Royal Family.
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) August 11, 2023
Prince William and Princess Kate have been awarded with three extra roles, including titles previously held by Prince Harry and Prince Andrew. pic.twitter.com/t7iOWJt5GO
On Friday (August 11), the working Royal family continued to take shape with the seven members listed above – as well as the King and Queen themselves – receiving new military appointments just one month ahead of King Charles’ very first Accession Day (Sept. 8; the anniversary of him taking over as King).
“Following His Majesty’s Accession, The King is pleased to announce further military appointments for working Members of the Royal Family,” Buckingham Palace wrote. “The new appointments will continue to reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family in His Majesty’s reign.”
Breaking News‼️
— Royalinstablog (@royalinstablog) August 10, 2023
3 New Military appointments for the Princess of Wales by The King
????Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's Dragoon Guards ( The Welsh Regiment) previously held by The King
✈️Royal Honorary Air Commodore at RAF Coningsby
⚓Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm pic.twitter.com/STJMRaCnlD
Princess Kate (also known as Catherine, Princess of Wales) received three new military affiliations herself – the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm (last held by Prince Andrew), the Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and the Royal Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Coningsby.
Her role as Royal Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force (RAF) Coningsby holds a special place in Kate’s heart – her grandfather served in the RAF and was a co-pilot with Prince Phillip (Queen Elizabeth’s husband), while her husband (Prince William) was an RAF Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley.
The Prince and Princess of Wales – with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte – during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire ????Ben Birchall/PA pic.twitter.com/NVZWiv0G52
— Derek Momodu (@DelMody) July 14, 2023
The new appointments come just one month after Prince William and Princess Kate treated their three children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 – to a trip to the Royal International Air Tattoo, which is the largest military air show held annually at Royal Air Force Fairford.
Who Else Received New Military Affiliations From King Charles?
Kate Middleton wasn’t the only one to receive new military affiliations – in fact, her husband (Prince William) also received three new appointments. He’ll now serve as the Colonel-in-Chief, The Mercian Regiment; Colonel-in-Chief, The Army Air Corps; and Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Valley.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and other working members of the British Royal Family have all received new honorary military appointments!!
— Royal News Network (@RNN_RoyalNews) August 11, 2023
For Prince William and Catherine, they each have 3 new ones! This means we’ll see Catherine attending more military functions!!☺️ pic.twitter.com/WjVQ3CYmfL
King Charles ended up taking on eight new affiliations, but none were more notable than Sponsor of the HMS Queen Elizabeth and his two new RAF appointments – Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Marham and Air Commodore-in-Chief of RAF Regiment. Charles served in both the Navy and Air Force.
TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla pic.twitter.com/MPKlJdnS0F
— Lady Cecily Neville (@LadyCecilyNevil) August 4, 2023
Queen Camilla, was named a patron of The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, while Princess Anne becomes Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Prince Edward becomes Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards and Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen’s Royal Hussars.
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Not only that, but Sophie received two new titles – Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment and Royal Colonel of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry – and Prince Richard became Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. His wife, Birgitte, was named Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps.