Kate Middleton’s new military role pays homage to her grandfather Peter, an RAF pilot who once flew with the late Prince Philip

The Princess of Wales’s new RAF role is a sweet nod to her late grandfather Peter Middleton, who once flew with Prince Philip.

Last night, King Charles, 74, announced he had reshuffled some of the royal family’s military appointments.

As Prince William is about to take over Prince Harry’s old army unit, the Princess of Wales has taken on three new roles.

The 41-year-old mother of three has been appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore at RAF Coningsby.

This title was previously held by her husband, who had held the role at the Lincolnshire base for 15 years from 2008.

The Princess’s new titles will be extra poignant for the Royal Family as she has family ties to the RAF beyond Prince William.

Kate’s paternal grandfather, Peter Middleton, served as a fighter pilot during World War II.

In October 1966, the princess’s grandfather flew with Prince Philip aboard from South America to London Heathrow.

After arriving at the airport, the late Duke of Edinburgh – who was 45 at the time – posed for a photo with Heathrow manager Mr CD Waldron.

As the two men shake hands outside the plane, Peter Middleton – who was still dressed in his pilot’s uniform – is seen smiling at Prince Philip in the background.

What’s more, it seems that the two men, whose grandchildren married in 2011, were pretty well known – as Peter Middleton even co-piloted a few of the Duke’s flights during his tour of South America.

In 1962, Prince Philip made a two-month tour of South America, visiting British factories, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.

He insisted on flying to many of his locations himself, flying 49 of the 62 flights himself, with Peter as co-pilot.

Pictured: Prince Philip shakes hands with Heathrow manager Mr CD Waldron in October 1966 as Peter Middleton (seen in a pilot’s uniform) smiles in their direction

The Princess of Wales pictured with the late Prince Philip on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June 2017

Captain Peter Middleton passed away at the age of 90, just days before the Prince and Princess announced their 2010 engagement.

Peter received a letter of thanks from Prince Philip for his services on the tour and a pair of gold cufflinks, according to his obituary.

Peter met his co-pilot’s grandson, Prince William, on his 90th birthday – and William attended his funeral with Kate later that year.

Peter, whose son is Michael Kate’s father, studied English at New College, Oxford before serving as an RAF fighter pilot during the Second World War.

He married Kate’s grandmother, Valerie Glassborow, in 1946. Valerie worked as Government Code and Cypher School in Bletchley Park and died in 2006.

Kate Middleton’s maternal grandparents Valerie Glassborow and Peter Middleton (center) pictured on their wedding day in December 1946

Prince Philip – who died in April 2021 at the age of 99 – was always an avid aviator, but spent most of his military career in the navy.

Before marrying the Queen, he quickly rose through the ranks of Royal Command and in 1942 became one of the youngest officers in the Royal Navy to be appointed First Lieutenant and second-in-command of a ship – HMS Wallace, aged just 21 . .

His active service ended in 1951, but the following year he was appointed Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

Prince Andrew was stripped of the title of Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm in January 2022 – when he faced a civil assault charge that he later paid millions to settle.

The rescheduling comes as the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death approaches, with King Charles expected to celebrate the occasion “quietly and privately” at Balmoral, while William and Kate are said to be leading the tributes to the late monarch.

Announcing the changes, the Ministry of Defense said William, who qualified as an RAF search and rescue pilot, is now Colonel-in-Chief of The Army Air Corps.

It means he will represent the Army’s airborne wing, including his brother’s former unit – 662 Squadron – with a royal commentator claiming that Harry himself could have been considered for the role earlier.