King sets Shahed lookalike in his sights as he practises air defence with the Royal Artillery
The King has tried out an air defence missile launcher to track a number of drones, including a homemade Shahed, during a visit to Royal Artillery soldiers on Thorney Island.
While the monarch didn't get to open fire, he did manage to get some hands-on experience in acquiring several targets.
It was the King's first visit to 7th Air Defence Group Royal Artillery units at Baker Barracks, and he went in his role as Captain General of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
King Charles receives a letter
"It's the first time I've met the King. It's the first time that he's ever been to Thorney Island," said Lieutenant Colonel Maarten Magee, Commanding Officer of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.
"So what a privilege to be here, to be able to host him and to showcase the capability that we provide to the Armed Forces."
As the King's helicopter landed, he was greeted by a 21-gun salute by 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
Charles spoke to military personnel based in Saudi Arabia, Estonia, Cyprus and the Falklands via video link as their families watched, including Charley and her daughter Poppy, who gave the King a letter.
Poppy said the letter told the King how she was excited to meet him and would like him to reply.
Her mother Charley, whose husband is serving in the Falklands and appeared on a live link-up with the King and his family, said: "It's incredible to obviously meet members of the Royal Family, especially the King.
"It's just nice to obviously have that face-to-face on camera and be able to share that special moment with him as well."
King found to be an exceptional student
"He's well used to some of the capabilities as an aviator himself. What we were able to show him is the challenges that soldiers are faced on the modern battlefield," Lt Col Magee said.
"So representative targets of drones and UAS...we had a mixture of different homemade drones as well as commercially sourced ones.
"The main show was the Shahed drone that he was able to use an LML [Thales Lightweight Multiple Launcher] with a Mark 3 aiming unit to try and acquire it in the distance."
He added that the King was "exceptional" and a "top student on the launcher".
Millie, another military spouse, and her daughter Ava also met the King. Her husband is serving in Cyprus and was also on the live link-up.
"I think it's fantastic...I think sometimes when you're at home, it's hard not to be a little bit bitter," Millie said.
"They get all these fantastic opportunities that get sent to all these different countries.
"So to have the King come here and care enough to ask about our families and what life's like for us back home, it meant a great deal."
Before King Charles left, he officially opened the Junior Ranks Restaurant by unveiling a gold plaque and cutting a large sponge cake to mark the occasion.
As he left, the King received a spontaneous round of applause from troops lining the route for his departure, with hundreds gathering from the Thorney Island forces community, waving Union Jack flags to catch a glimpse of him.
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