Heirs course ends with wings
Prince William received his wings on Friday from his father, Prince Charles, after completing a four-month intensive flying training course.
The presentation took place at RAF Cranwell, where Prince Charles also learnt to fly and was awarded his wings in 1971 at a ceremony attended by his father, Prince Philip.
Those at Friday’s ceremony included the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William’s girlfriend, Miss Kate Middleton, who wore an ivory double-breasted knee-length coat with black suede boots.
It was her first appearance at a formal event with the prince since December 2006.
Before the ceremony Prince Charles and the duchess — in knee-length light blue dress with matching coat — were met at the main entrance to College Hall by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy.
In his welcoming speech to Prince Charles, the station commander, Group Captain Nigel Wharmby, said: “We are delighted you have made the time to be here today, not only in your formal capacity but as a proud parent.”
He recalled Prince Charles’s graduation from RAF College, Cranwell, as a member of Graduate Entry class Number 1.
Prince Charles, who has the RAF rank Air Chief Marshal, wore his Number 1 uniform.
He presented 25 officers, including his son, with their wings.
A lunch after the ceremony was attended by the royal party, Sir Glenn, Group Captain Wharmby, and the graduating officers and their guests.
There was a starter of smoked salmon with pickled vegetables, followed by corn-fed chicken with roasted vine tomato sauce, and for dessert lemon tart.
After lunch Prince Charles, the duchess and Prince William inspected the flight line.
This included the Grob 115E Tutor light aircraft in which Prince William made his first solo flight, and the De Havilland Chipmunk aircraft in which Prince Charles made his first solo flight in 1969.
Prince William’s four-month course — the Golden Kestrel Flying Training Course — was specially designed not only to train him to be a competent pilot, but also to give him an insight into the structure, history and ethos of the RAF.
It also enabled him to fulfil a lifetime ambition.
As third in line to the throne, Prince William is a future head of the Armed Forces.
As well as piloting the Grob 115E Tutor, used for training at RAF Cranwell, Prince William learnt to fly Tucana T1 fast engine jets at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, and Squirrel HT1 helicopters at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire.
While at Cranwell, the prince was known as Flying Officer Wales.
He lived at the officers’ mess with members of a class who had just completed their first flight of training.
He will now spend three weeks visiting other RAF bases before a four-month secondment in the Royal Navy. He will then return to his Army regiment, the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals, until January, when he will take on royal duties full time.
