Prince William has a vast military career, which he wears medals for. Picture: Getty By Hope Wilson. Did Prince William serve in the military and what medals does he have? Here is everything you need to know about his service.
Was Prince William in the military?
Prince William has served in the military. He began his career in the Blues and Royals, a cavalry regiment within the Army, after training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Following the completion of his training with the Royal Navy, Prince William obtained his commission as a sub-lieutenant, while also achieving flying officer in the Royal Air Force.
He then graduated from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and went on to join the RAF Search and Rescue Force. During his time as a rescue mission co-pilot, Prince William was involved in 156 search and rescue operations, resulting in 149 people being rescued. In 2015, the Prince of Wales took up the full-time position of pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), donating his full salary to charity.
In May 2024, King Charles III handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William. Upon passing the baton to his son, the monarch told the Army Air Corps: "I do hope you'll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new colonel-in-chief. The great thing is he's a very good pilot indeed. So that's encouraging."
What medals does Prince William have?
Prince William owns seven medals which were bestowed on him as a member of the working royal family. These medals are:
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Order of the Garter or Order of the Thistle
- Great Master of the Order of the Bath
Despite serving in the RAF, Prince William does not hold any military medals. However, his most recent medal was the Great Master of the Order of the Bath, which he was presented in April 2024.
