Last week, a significant royal development unfolded as the Prince of Wales, brother to the Duke of Sussex, was named the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, causing considerable embarrassment to the Duke.
This appointment, orchestrated by the King himself, was seen as a deliberate move to signal to the Duke that he was now considered an outsider within the royal ranks.
The Prince of Wales, donning his military attire, embarked on a symbolic journey in an Apache chopper from an airbase in Hampshire for the momentous occasion at Middle Wallop.
Described by the King as a skilled pilot, the Prince of Wales was entrusted with leading the Duke’s former military unit following his appointment.
During the event, the King expressed his pride in being part of this journey and conveyed his hopes for the Prince of Wales to steer the unit towards greater success.
Notably, this public appearance marked a display of royal unity, being the first time the Prince of Wales and the King appeared together since the King’s cancer diagnosis.
According to insider sources, the timing of this appointment couldn’t have been worse for the Duke, as it followed the King and the Duchess declining a meeting with him.
The decision to appoint the Prince of Wales as the commander of the Duke’s former regiment was perceived as a final blow to the Duke’s status within the royal family.
Stripped of his HRH title and denied a meeting with his father, the Duke found himself overshadowed by his brother’s ascension to a prominent military role.
The lack of support from the King for the Duke’s milestone celebration of the Invictus Games anniversary raised eyebrows, especially when juxtaposed with the King finding time to meet with celebrities like David Beckham instead of his own son.
The announcement of the Prince of Wales taking over the Army Air Corps had been in the pipeline, but the deliberate timing of the transition emphasized the Duke’s diminishing significance within the royal hierarchy.
The scheduling of the ceremony was marred by tensions between the Palace and the Sussexes, particularly regarding the hospitality extended to the Duke during his recent visit to London.
Contrary to the Duke’s public claims, sources close to the royal family revealed that the King had offered him accommodation at a royal palace, which the Duke opted to decline in favor of staying at a hotel.
In light of these unfolding events, it has become increasingly apparent that the Duke of Sussex is being gradually sidelined within the royal family dynamics.
The strategic moves made by the King and the Prince of Wales underscore a shift in power dynamics, leaving the Duke grappling with his diminishing influence and status.