Prince William Forced to Cancel Royal Engagement at Last Minute, Sends His 'Sincere Apologies'

Prince William was forced to cancel a royal outing on Thursday, January 16.

The Prince of Wales, 42, had planned to visit families and servicemen and women in the army regiment where he has a prestigious royal role.

But the weather meant a trip to the Army Air Corps (AAC) regiment in Wattisham, Suffolk, had to be postponed. In a message, Kensington Palace said the bad weather would “significantly curtail the planned programme”.

“The Prince of Wales sends his sincere apologies to those he was due to meet and hopes to postpone his visit as soon as possible.”

William was due to arrive in style at the AAC Regiment in Wattisham – in a Wildcat helicopter. The helicopter is crucial for reconnaissance, and William was expected to speak to members of the armed forces about the work of the corps and meet the teams that train at the facility. He was also expected to spend time with soldiers and their families to talk about the experience of the regiment from the perspective of those who enlist, and talk about the importance of resilience and adaptability, as well as the importance of looking after mental and physical health. welfare.

Prince William spoke to Aston Villa fans while in Birmingham on January 15, 2025.

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It would be his second public appearance in as many days. On January 15, William traveled to the city of Birmingham for a visit to speak to the College of Nurses and mark his new patronage which supports them. On his way back to London, he caught up with some fans of his favorite football team, Aston Villa, chatting over a beer in a local pub.

Prince William is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, a title bestowed upon him by his father King Charles in May 2024, making him the leader of his brother Prince Harry’s former regiment. The Duke of Sussex trained as an Air Force pilot in 2009 and served in the corps during his second tour in Afghanistan from 2012-2013.

Prince William with his father King Charles visiting the Royal Air Force in Stockbridge, England on May 13, 2024.

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While the king, 76, officially handed over the colonelcy to William in a military ceremony at the Air Force Base in Hampshire last May, the Prince of Wales technically held the appointment for a little longer. Charles has announced that William will play a role in a series of new military appointments for working royals, announced in August 2023, almost a year after he comes to the throne.

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Prince William has first-hand experience as a trained military pilot and served with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales from 2010 to 2013. He later retrained as an air ambulance pilot and worked for the Air East Anglian Ambulance from 2015 to 2017 continuing his career.

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Prince William at the inaugural Emergency and Critical Care Conference at the Birmingham Conference and Events Center on January 15, 2025.

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Wattisham Regiment is about two and a half hours from Windsor, where Prince William lives with his wife Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6).

On January 14, the Princess of Wales announced that she was in “remission” from cancer after a surprise stop at a London hospital where she was receiving treatment in 2024. William visited Birmingham the following day, marking his first royal duty in the new year.

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Source: HIS Education