Kate Middleton's New Military Appointment Is a Sweet Nod to Her Family History

King Charles announced new military appointments for members of the royal family—including three for Kate Middleton. Buckingham Palace said in a statement that "the new appointments will continue to reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the royal family in His Majesty’s reign."

The Princess of Wales is now the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Coningsby.

The last appointment is particularly meaningful: Kate's grandfather Captain Peter Middleton served in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was a RAF fighter pilot during World War II, and even flew alongside Prince Philip in 1962 during the late Duke of Edinburgh's two-month tour of South America. Kate takes over the honorary appointment from King Charles's brother Prince Andrew, who held it until last year.

The new RAF appointment, too, solidifies the Prince and Princess of Wales's ties to the unit. Prince William served as a RAF Search and Rescue, based at RAF Valley in Wales, and he is the Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Coningsby. In the new appointments, William also received a RAF-related one: Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley. In addition, the Prince of Wales is now Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment and Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.

Kate and William are making their ties to the RAF clear this year. The last Wales family appearance was to the Royal International Air Tattoo, a military air show at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, where they brought all three of their kids to take in the planes.

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