King Charles and Prince William displayed strong mutual affection during a joint public appearance while handing over command of the Army Air Corps to the Prince of Wales. The event took place at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. King Charles, aged 75, arrived by helicopter and officially appointed Prince William as Colonel-in-Chief during a special ceremony.
Body language expert Judi James interpreted the interactions between Charles and William as showing a "sheer joy in each other's company," with visible signs of camaraderie and laughter as they spent time together during the event. Prince William was also seen taking command of the 662 Squadron, a unit previously held by his younger brother, Prince Harry.
Despite recent public discussions of tensions within the royal family, particularly concerning Prince Harry, both Charles and William seemed focused and relaxed during the ceremony, according to James. The interactions between the two were described as genuine and devoid of any formality typically associated with royal engagements.
Additionally, King Charles shared a moment with British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck who underwent chemotherapy for testicular cancer. The King connected over mutual experiences with loss of taste due to cancer treatments, showing empathy towards the veteran. King Charles’ gestures and personal sharing during the event were noted by James as indicating a capacity for heightened empathy and personal connection, potentially deepened by his own experiences with illness.