Prince George stood nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with his mother, the Princess of Wales, during a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire for National Armed Forces Day. The 12-year-old heir accompanied Kate, who has served as Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby since 2023, for the poignant occasion.
The royal pair were given a tour of the base, which houses two frontline combat-ready squadrons and the fleet of aircraft used in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. RAF Coningsby also serves as the primary training station for Typhoon pilots.
A video shared by Kensington Palace showed George, who measures just slightly below his mother at 5 feet 9 inches tall, inspecting planes. He was seen entering the cockpit of an authentic Battle of Britain Spitfire, a plane painted to represent its markings from D-Day. He is known to have a penchant for flying and has previously taken private lessons.
Kate, dressed in a tailored grey tweed jacket, also took a turn at the controls of the Spitfire before speaking with Squadron Leader Paul 'Ernie' Wise. The Spitfire they examined flew with No. 402 'City of Winnipeg' Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Later, Prince George climbed into the cockpit of a modern Typhoon jet, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2 (approximately 1,320 mph). The future king, who is set to attend Eton College in September, will turn 13 next month.
Kensington Palace stated that the visit aimed to honor Service and Sacrifice. A social media message from the palace read: 'Marking Armed Forces Day by reflecting on time spent with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby. Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive. A powerful reminder of the courage, skill and dedication of those who serve, past and present. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve.'
It is understood that the Princess of Wales and Prince George visited the base two weeks prior to the public announcement. RAF Coningsby is one of two RAF Quick Reaction Alert Stations protecting UK airspace and employs nearly 3,000 personnel. The visit coincided with nationwide celebrations for Armed Forces Day.