![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLLEXA7HLFDYPGVK25AYMQYD3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aeebe9ae321dd56a1c78e7174dbad1555082330f1891d0557aa5e456e1d1741&width=400&height=225)
The prince visits First Battalion the Mercian Regiment to mark 10 years as Colonel-in-Chief and 40 years since becoming Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshire Regiment at Bulford Camp in Salisbury in 2018
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCIPIWUDHJE5ZGD4VYQ3LEXFWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1596f1b36f0a254c669d11a9d88937e6ae864198368776a86a6062ffa1e4a83f&width=400&height=225)
CRANWELL - AUGUST 01: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales trains in a jet at RAF Crwnwell in order to gain his 'wings' on August 01, 1971 in Cranwell, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7UNG6DC3RCKFGHYYFJR5HF7GU.jpg?smart=true&auth=40274dcbe344e161aea33cb3dd61845df7f244d210a5be5fbcecf2af30e252bc&width=400&height=225)
The prince receives his wings at RAF Cranwell in August 1971
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/43X2HS64XNBXFB6AIBZ5FCVXEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=16b59e32e9c36dc2ca04f11d4296dca97372425e01fe77091ff221dd3f1b9ed0&width=400&height=225)
The prince with a jet plane at RAF Cranwell in 1971
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSWZLFPZYFGRZLZERXVTZD25VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a319c39c62695da46bbda7c8d978a391b345b2d1bdb169fd7052599b42011433&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles is briefed by Wing Commander 'Hank' Martin before his flight in a Phantom Interceptor as part of his training
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DAT2H26IINE5DGHGX7QAE645FY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4471d26debaa0df17c4240380c1f322df7db31e1ae49233edafa822548ae9e41&width=400&height=225)
The prince while serving in the Royal Navy on board the HMS Minerva at Plymouth in 1973
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HPNIZK7JQJBAPCPQCDVGSPTS4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6d2b97b5c44d919a2f95fbab182ae7766dadc8cab9f94ff6c13bde458768e3f&width=400&height=225)
The prince tackles an assault course at the Royal Marines Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, and achieves a first-class pass, in 1975
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6N6VYWMENAPVLRCGZYPXFSDOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=43e7ac11a1f074039ca0f76b7ca4e9d0d521244700a13f9767f1dc2436b6c8b6&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles helps a colleague put on his helmet during his time with the 845 Naval Air Squadron in 1975
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2OMOHPU6KRH4RCKIOWI3PMHJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=70345988308580854081de39cefda6afec0fe7edf8e4c6643e05e7e21e8ca47f&width=400&height=225)
The prince speaks with members of the Royal Regiment of Wales and the Parachute Regiment in Basrah, Iraq in 2004
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLUXEAXYQVGUPFWEC2TUM2VZZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b140f75bb46cf5dc559510cbb75c80dfbd6257c82c19c20a8d2e7865f459b365&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles is shown an Apache helicopter by crew members at Wattisham Airfield in 2009
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EHC7BQM36VBELHO2K4H5HVDBE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=390d88fe292dfa428c471eacc514a07bc55df6359139cb758ebbb9c6b25c14e6&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles climbs onboard the latest Hawk training jet during a visit to RAF Valley in 2009 in Holyhead, Wales
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XTCO4ZUJ3JA5LMUQOTKNAXIK44.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c88c3faf3b686d2b9de8e8d79106c912bbb19633d8ae0774abc66221503942f&width=400&height=225)
The prince on a British military helicopter en route to Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan on March 25, 2010
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P3LHDZKNWNDCJG2HIMYU27SVKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7441a75c9c9e59dd165415c5d9a3152f80596f844c2ec6e1f3baa169d1d422e&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles sits for a group picture after presenting campaign medals to soldiers from the Black Watch in Fort George, Scotland, in 2010
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLLEXA7HLFDYPGVK25AYMQYD3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aeebe9ae321dd56a1c78e7174dbad1555082330f1891d0557aa5e456e1d1741&width=400&height=225)
The prince visits First Battalion the Mercian Regiment to mark 10 years as Colonel-in-Chief and 40 years since becoming Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshire Regiment at Bulford Camp in Salisbury in 2018
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCIPIWUDHJE5ZGD4VYQ3LEXFWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1596f1b36f0a254c669d11a9d88937e6ae864198368776a86a6062ffa1e4a83f&width=400&height=225)
CRANWELL - AUGUST 01: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales trains in a jet at RAF Crwnwell in order to gain his 'wings' on August 01, 1971 in Cranwell, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7UNG6DC3RCKFGHYYFJR5HF7GU.jpg?smart=true&auth=40274dcbe344e161aea33cb3dd61845df7f244d210a5be5fbcecf2af30e252bc&width=400&height=225)
The prince receives his wings at RAF Cranwell in August 1971
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/43X2HS64XNBXFB6AIBZ5FCVXEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=16b59e32e9c36dc2ca04f11d4296dca97372425e01fe77091ff221dd3f1b9ed0&width=400&height=225)
The prince with a jet plane at RAF Cranwell in 1971
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSWZLFPZYFGRZLZERXVTZD25VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a319c39c62695da46bbda7c8d978a391b345b2d1bdb169fd7052599b42011433&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles is briefed by Wing Commander 'Hank' Martin before his flight in a Phantom Interceptor as part of his training
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DAT2H26IINE5DGHGX7QAE645FY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4471d26debaa0df17c4240380c1f322df7db31e1ae49233edafa822548ae9e41&width=400&height=225)
The prince while serving in the Royal Navy on board the HMS Minerva at Plymouth in 1973
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HPNIZK7JQJBAPCPQCDVGSPTS4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6d2b97b5c44d919a2f95fbab182ae7766dadc8cab9f94ff6c13bde458768e3f&width=400&height=225)
The prince tackles an assault course at the Royal Marines Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, and achieves a first-class pass, in 1975
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6N6VYWMENAPVLRCGZYPXFSDOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=43e7ac11a1f074039ca0f76b7ca4e9d0d521244700a13f9767f1dc2436b6c8b6&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles helps a colleague put on his helmet during his time with the 845 Naval Air Squadron in 1975
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2OMOHPU6KRH4RCKIOWI3PMHJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=70345988308580854081de39cefda6afec0fe7edf8e4c6643e05e7e21e8ca47f&width=400&height=225)
The prince speaks with members of the Royal Regiment of Wales and the Parachute Regiment in Basrah, Iraq in 2004
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PLUXEAXYQVGUPFWEC2TUM2VZZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b140f75bb46cf5dc559510cbb75c80dfbd6257c82c19c20a8d2e7865f459b365&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles is shown an Apache helicopter by crew members at Wattisham Airfield in 2009
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EHC7BQM36VBELHO2K4H5HVDBE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=390d88fe292dfa428c471eacc514a07bc55df6359139cb758ebbb9c6b25c14e6&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles climbs onboard the latest Hawk training jet during a visit to RAF Valley in 2009 in Holyhead, Wales
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XTCO4ZUJ3JA5LMUQOTKNAXIK44.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c88c3faf3b686d2b9de8e8d79106c912bbb19633d8ae0774abc66221503942f&width=400&height=225)
The prince on a British military helicopter en route to Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan on March 25, 2010
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P3LHDZKNWNDCJG2HIMYU27SVKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7441a75c9c9e59dd165415c5d9a3152f80596f844c2ec6e1f3baa169d1d422e&width=400&height=225)
Prince Charles sits for a group picture after presenting campaign medals to soldiers from the Black Watch in Fort George, Scotland, in 2010
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLLEXA7HLFDYPGVK25AYMQYD3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aeebe9ae321dd56a1c78e7174dbad1555082330f1891d0557aa5e456e1d1741&width=400&height=225)
The prince visits First Battalion the Mercian Regiment to mark 10 years as Colonel-in-Chief and 40 years since becoming Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshire Regiment at Bulford Camp in Salisbury in 2018
What is King Charles's military background referenced by Zelenskyy in pilot speech?
Monarch is an experienced aviator and trained to fly planes during his military service in the 1970s
![Neil Murphy](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fbbfa4928-39b4-46b0-af7f-7416c61294c8.png?smart=true&auth=912c92a7a067110331cea5ca5e5883f656912bdbba05c09eed2ffbe0b324c8d1&width=70&height=70)
Neil Murphy
08 February, 2023
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