Prince William dons combat gear
His time in the army was actually a few years ago. Nevertheless, Prince William still has military duties as Colonel of the Mercian Regiment. He is now demonstrating that he is not shirking these duties with a visit to the troops.
Just under two weeks after Princess Kate's visit to the barracks, heir to the throne Prince William has now also made an appearance in the military. He also swapped his suit for a camouflage uniform and took part in a tank ride. It was his inaugural visit to the Mercian Regiment, to which his father King Charles III had appointed him colonel in the summer.
In August, the palace announced that the King was reshuffling military roles following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II: "Following His Majesty's accession to the throne, the King is pleased to announce further military appointments for working members of the Royal Family," it said in a statement. The appointments would reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family.
Heir to the throne William was given three new roles: the title of Colonel of the Mercian Regiment and the Army Air Corps and Honorary Royal Commander of RAF Valley. He himself was once a pilot at the airbase.
Smoke grenades and tank guns
Now, for the first time, he joined the soldiers of the Merican Regiment and trained with them in full camouflage. Shortly after his arrival on Salisbury Plain in southern England, the prince first received a theoretical briefing on the regiment's work. The 12th Armored Brigade's combat team will be deployed to Poland next year to provide a range of services, including combat engineering, bridge crossing and air defense, according to the UK's Daily Mail.
Prince William then inspected the military vehicles and took part in an assault exercise. He threw smoke grenades and operated the gun of a tank. The 41-year-old then met various members of the military to find out more about their roles and activities in the regiment.
"Real education in the field"
After the appointment, the heir to the throne's Instagram page commented on some snapshots of William in uniform: "A memorable hands-on introduction to the Mercian Regiment as a Colonel." It had been a "real education in the field" to gain an "understanding of the work of modern infantry" in the British Army.
William's wife was also given new roles in August. Charles appointed her Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm and Colonel of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards. Her third new title is that of Honorary Royal Commander of the Royal Air Force squadron of Eurofighter jets based at Coningsby.
At the beginning of November, she visited the troops of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards at Dereham Barracks. She changed from her blazer into a camouflage uniform and piloted a drone.
Prince William's commitment to his military duties continues, as he participates in a tactical exercise with the Mercian Regiment, showcasing his role as their Colonel. This entertainment-filled activity serves as a reminder of the British Royal Family's strong connection with the Armed Forces.
Recalling Prince William's visit, one could say that his deployment with the Mercian Regiment offered an exciting blend of duty and entertainment, exemplifying the intersection of royal responsibilities and military service within the British Royal Family.
Source: www.ntv.de
