New Military Roles for The Princess of Wales

While the Royal Family is on summer vacation the royal machine is working behind the scene. Today, Buckingham Palace announced new military roles for the 8 working members of the British Royal Family. The King, The Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and The Duke of Gloucester are among the recipients of the Military roles.

King Charles III is the head of the armed forces and has been closely linked with all forms of British army since his early 20s. Announcing the new roles Buckingham Palace said, “The new appointments will continue to reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family in His Majesty’s reign“.

Catherine, The Princess of Wales, has been appointed the Commodore-in-Chief Fleet Air Arm, Colonel-in-Chief 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief RAF Conningsby.  William was the Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Coningsby from 2008 and today Catherine took over that role.

“Clearly, part of the much larger current review and redistribution of the late Queen’s patronages, which numbered at her death in excess of 600 organisations, these armed services patronages, for that is in effect what they are, have been much easier to deal with than those in the charity and other sectors, such as the patronage of Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club”. – The Telegraph

Catherine also holds the position of Colonel of Irish Guards – another role she took over from her husband in December last year. and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Air cadets – a role she took over from Prince Philip in 2016. She is also the sponsor of HMS Glasgow. The Princess has a long standing relationship with the Royal Air Force. Her grandfather Peter Middleton was a RAF Pilot and flew William’s grandfather late Prince Philip during the tour of South America in 1962. Her husband William was the RAF Search and Rescue pilot based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, from 2010 to 2013.

In total Palace announced 21 military roles today out of which 11 are the late Queen’s roles that were redistributed, 1 was held by the Prince Philip, 6 were King Charles’ that were redistributed. The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh were also given two roles previously held by The Duke of York. And as mentioned Catherine got one from her husband Prince William. Only two working royals did not receive any new role – The Duke of Kent who is nearly 90 years old and Princess Alexandra who is considered working royal but has not been taking any engagements for many years now due to her old age.

Palace announces new Honorary Military appointments.

The Appointment included position previously held by:
11 by Queen Elizabeth II
1 by Prince Philip
6 by King Charles
1 by Prince William
2 by Prince Andrew
1 position never held by a Royalhttps://t.co/ROT9TuC4FD

— Gert’s Royals (@Gertsroyals) August 11, 2023