Prince William joked that family can be something of a ‘mixed bag’ when he spoke to soldiers at an army air field. 

His off-the-cuff comment came as he visited the Army Air Corps (ACC) in Wattisham, Suffolk, as its new colonel in chief. 

The Prince was specifically replying to a comment made by one of the soldiers – amid his own fraught relationship with his brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Asking about the pace of life and how often they see loved ones, William, sporting military uniform, quipped: ‘Some of them might not want to see you that much. It’s a mixed bag.’ 

It came as he observed a combat PT session, and chatted to soldiers during a brief water break. 

He said the training could help with frustration, saying: ‘It’s good to take it out on a punch bag.’ 

Chatting to another group he enquired about some of the systems they use before asking: ‘Is the pace of life good at the moment.’ 

One man responded that it was a ‘mixed bag.’ William then said: ‘Families okay? See you enough? Some of them might not want to see you that much. It’s a mixed bag sometimes.’

Prince William (pictured right) visited the Army Air Corps (ACC) in Wattisham, Suffolk, as its new colonel in chief

He then promised that he would talk to someone ‘about accommodation and make sure that’s looked at’. 

He said: ‘It probably hasn’t been looked at for a while. There will be a big notebook on somebody’s desk. Whether they listen to me, that’s another matter.’ 

Prince William, who inherited his new military role from the King in May 2024, arrived in a wildcat helicopter, a key element of the AAC’s capability. 

He received an overview of the work the corps does before hearing about 664 squadron’s operational lessons from overseas tours and how soldiers are adapting to the new capabilities of the recently acquired Apache AH-64E helicopter. 

Inside a planning and executive tent he examined maps and technologies for tracking live locations of soldiers taking part in NATO training in Norway. Lance Corporal Sulabh Ale then showed him the main control computer, which the Prince sat at. 

He asked questions about what it showed, including about reading ‘contours on the grounds’ and the significance of different colours on the screen. 

Prince William (pictured), who inherited his new military role from the King in May 2024, arrived in a wildcat helicopter, a key element of the AAC’s capability 

Before he left there was even time to help serve at the Archer’s Breakfast (pictured), a weekly social event held by 664 Sqaudron for its personnel and their families

Inside a planning and executive tent, William (pictured left) examined maps and technologies for tracking live locations of soldiers taking part in NATO training in Norway

Prince William (pictured) received an overview of the work the corps does before hearing about 664 squadron’s operational lessons from overseas tours and how soldiers are adapting to the new capabilities of the recently acquired Apache AH-64E helicopter

The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, the Army Air Corps (AAC), during his first visit to the regiments

Before he left there was even time to help serve at the Archer’s Breakfast, a weekly social event held by 664 Sqaudron for its personnel and their families. 

He asked troops and their families if they wanted a sausage or bacon bap, adding: ‘It’s making my mouth water.’ 

The ladies serving with him praised his serving abilities, saying he was ‘spot on’ and ‘had pace’. 

He also spoke with WO2 Matthew Foster and children Archie, six, and Ida, eight. He asked Ida if she liked school and then responded to Archie telling him that he liked playtime, saying: ‘I’m getting the handle of both of you two now.’ 

He asked Ida if she liked French, and how she was writing it. And then asked about the helicopters: ‘Which do you like the most? The apache? You like the apache? ‘Your dad does a very important job here.’ 

Archie then told him he wants to drive a Land Rover, to which the Prince replied that there was a lot around. Matthew joked: ‘Reach for the stars.’ 

Ida said: ‘It was amazing. I loved it. This is going to be the best thing of my whole entire life. I’m going to write it in a book. He asked lots of questions. He asked about school.’ 

Matthew added afterwards: ‘It’s great to have engagement from our colonel in chief for the families of serving soldiers. He’s great, very engaging. It was like he cares for the families of the units.’ 

The squadron and regiment honour his memory through an annual cross country race and by naming Pope’s Bar after him, which was the venue for meeting the families. 

The Prince then presented Staff Seargant Kenneth Robert Copeland with an award for his exceptional service in West Africa a couple of years ago. 

The Prince (pictured) presented Staff Seargant Kenneth Robert Copeland with an award for his exceptional service in West Africa a couple of years ago

At the breakfast club (pictured), William asked troops and their families if they wanted a sausage or bacon bap, adding: ‘It’s making my mouth water’

William also promoted several soldiers from corporal to sergeant, before taking to the controls himself and flying the wildcat helicopter off the base

The prince (pictured right) is a qualified helicopter pilot who served with the RAF Search and rescue team as well as their air ambulance in East Anglia

Staff sergeant Megan Chasney, who helped to host William (pictured), said after: ‘It was fantastic. It’s a privilege to be able to host our colonel in chief’

Kenneth said after: ‘It’s a huge honour. We don’t do things for recognition we do it because it’s our job but to be recognised is special. 

‘He’s our colonel in chief so to get that off the main boss of what I’ve been doing for 23 years is brilliant.’ 

William also promoted several soldiers from corporal to sergeant, before taking to the controls himself and flying the wildcat helicopter off the base. 

The prince is a qualified helicopter pilot who served with the RAF Search and rescue team as well as their air ambulance in East Anglia. 

Staff sergeant Megan Chasney, who helped to host him, said after: ‘It was fantastic. It’s a privilege to be able to host our colonel in chief. 

‘We had a nice relaxed conversation on our way from the sports pitch down to here to speak about everything, our main issues at Wattisham and how he can help aid us with those, and what it’s like with service personnel and our families.’ 

He also met Mike and Lorna Pope, parents of Air Trooper Daniel Pope of 664 Squadron who sadly died of cancer in 2016. 

She added on the accommodation, which the Prince took a keen interest in: ‘You can see this is a World War Two camp. It’s aging accommodation and its aging infrastructure. We have new infrastructure coming but it can’t come fast enough.’