The comments on the post were full of fans sharing their admiration for Prince William, with one person writing, ‘Well done Prince William, a good role model in everything he does.’ Another added, ‘Your Highness is such a great example of goodness and your incredible Highness wife is extraordinary as well. Thank you for brining light into this world.’ Others still praised the Prince of Wales for his bearded look, which has been a new addition in recent years. One wrote William is ‘aging like a fine wine’, while another commented, ‘Best decision was marrying Kate second best is the beard.’
Prince William’s visit to the base gave the opportunity to have a firsthand introduction to 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4AAC).
The Prince became Colonel-in-Chief in May 2024, when His Majesty The King officially handed over the role at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop. The AAC is the combat aviation arm of the British Army, and is made up of several regiments, recognisable by their distinctive blue berets. It was formed in 1957 on the foundations of the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Air Observation Post Squadron. With locations in Hampshire, Shropshire, Somerset and Suffolk, AAC soldiers train in the UK skies in readiness for combat operations across the world. Over the past 12 months, AAC squadrons have been deployed to Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Germany.
On arrival, William received an overview on the work of the AAC before hearing about
664 Squadron’s operational lessons from overseas tours and how soldiers are adapting to the new
capabilities of the recently acquired Apache AH-64E. Following this, The Prince observed a combat PT session, which illustrated the requirement for physical and mental robustness within the AAC as well as the need to develop team skills including problem-solving, communication, and leadership.
The royal father-of-three then joined the ‘Archer’s Breakfast’ a weekly social event held by 664 Squadron for its personnel and their families. This will include soldiers who have deployed overseas as well as soldiers who have recently joined the unit. Finally, The Prince presented a King’s Commendation for Valuable Service as well as award soldiers their promotion from Corporal to Sergeant.