In a recent development that has reportedly left Prince Harry in tears, his elder brother Prince William has been honored with the title of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps, a unit with which Harry had personally served in Afghanistan.
This announcement was made by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, coinciding with Harry's return to London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Royal commentator Tom Quinn, speaking to The Mirror, described the timing of the announcement as a "real kick in the teeth" for Harry, who has often felt overlooked and undervalued within the royal family. "He is said to have been in tears when he heard," Quinn revealed.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the honor was bestowed upon William, whom Harry perceives as the root of many of his issues. Quinn suggested that the announcement was "deliberately" timed to coincide with Harry's UK visit, signaling that the younger royal son "is no longer welcome."
Quinn explained, "They [the royal family] have decided the gloves are off and that Harry needs to realize that when you betray the family, you don't just escape the things you hated doing as a working royal. You also lose the things you loved."
Quinn further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Harry cannot fail to get the message. His last few ties to his old life are being cut and he is being set adrift, permanently."
Both William and Harry have military training as pilots. Harry served in the Army Air Corps during his second tour of Afghanistan until 2014. Although William did not participate in active conflict, he has served as a search and rescue pilot and an air ambulance pilot.
Despite expectations of a reunion between Harry and his ailing father, King Charles, during his UK visit, the meeting did not materialize. It remains unclear whether William's new honor played a role in this decision.
Harry, once known for his close relationship with William and his sister-in-law, Princess Kate, has been estranged from his family since stepping down as a senior royal in 2020. His brief return to the UK did not include a visit to Kate, who is currently battling cancer.
Harry, fifth in line to the throne, now resides in Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children.
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