Prince William takes off in Apache helicopter after King hands over Army Air Corps role

The King has handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to the Prince of Wales in front of an Apache attack helicopter at Middle Wallop Airfield in Hampshire.

Prince William, who served in the Army with the Blues and Royals and was an RAF search and rescue pilot for three years at RAF Valley in Anglesey, took to the skies in an Apache after the handover ceremony, as part of a capability flight.

The King became the inaugural holder of the title 32 years ago and said he felt "great sadness" passing on the role.

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The Army Air Corps is the Duke of Sussex's old unit, in which he served as an Apache helicopter commander and co-pilot gunner during his second tour to Afghanistan in 2012.

King Charles said it was a "great joy" to meet servicemen, their families and veterans at a visit to the Army Flying Museum but added the handover was "tinged with great sadness".

He said: "I do hope you'll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new Colonel-in-Chief.

"The great thing is he's a very good pilot indeed – so that's encouraging."

A plaque commemorating an Apache AH Mk.1 going on display was unveiled by the King, the first of its kind to be installed at a UK museum.

The aircraft was one of four involved in a rescue mission during the Battle of Jugroom Fort in 2007.

Prince William was able to embark on his first engagement with the Army Air Corps after the King left, receiving a briefing on its work and inspecting training and operational aircraft as well as talking to soldiers.

He was presented with gifts on behalf of the corps – a tartan scarf for the prince, a wrap for his wife Princess Kate and three wooden helicopter models for each of the couple's children.

Kensington Palace posted two images of the prince during his military service on X, showing a young William in 1998 and 2009 – standing next to a helicopter in one picture and smiling at the controls in another.

"Time flies!" the caption read.