Kate in the Armed Forces: The Princess of Wales' military roles and titles explained
Kate holds numerous military titles as the Princess of Wales, being a working member of the Royal Family.
The Princess of Wales is Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by her husband, Prince William.
The title was made known in December 2022 alongside the announcement of the King's first Trooping the Colour – subsequently held in Central London on 17 June 2023.
Having fought in almost all UK conflicts from the First World War to Afghanistan, the Irish Guards are experts in infantry combat from engaging enemy troops with machine guns and mortars to anti-tank warfare and reconnaissance.
Kate is Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, the aviation branch of the Royal Navy, which delivers air power in support of operations and projects the UK's influence over land, air and sea.
In September 2023, the Princess of Wales helped guide a Wildcat helicopter in to land at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton as she visited the Somerset base.
The Princess of Wales was given the role in August 2023, when King Charles reshuffled military appointments for working members of the Royal Family as the anniversary of the late Queen's death approached.
Two other roles were handed to Kate in 2023.
The Princess took over from her husband William as Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby, an appointment held since 2008.
Coningsby is one of just two RAF Quick Reaction Alert Stations, along with RAF Lossiemouth, which protect UK airspace 24/7.
Kate also became the new Colonel-in-Chief of 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards, known as the Welsh Cavalry, a duty which was carried out by her father-in-law Charles when he was the Prince of Wales.
In November 2023, the Princess of Wales got behind the wheel of a Jackal 2 - the British Army's high-mobility weapons platform - during a visit to 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.
Kate is the sponsor of HMS Glasgow, the first vessel of the Royal Navy's new Type 26 City-class frigates.
The frigates are due to be delivered in the coming decade and are already being dubbed the workhorses of the warship fleet.
Replacing the dedicated submarine-hunting Type 23 frigates, the Type 26s will accompany Royal Navy aircraft carriers as part of a Carrier Strike Group and deliver critical protection of the Navy's Continuous At Sea Deterrent.
The Type 26 vessels will uphold the three key naval functions within the service - maritime security, international engagement and warfighting.
Kate is also an Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets – made up of the Air Training Corps and the RAF section of the Combined Cadet Force.
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