Prince William was accompanied by a royal relative during a military graduation on Thursday. Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 69, the sister of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, joined Prince William at RAF Cranwell.
Lady Sarah, who lives 15 miles from the Air Academy in Grantham, reportedly heard about her nephew’s attendance and came to offer her support. In 2009, she served a one-year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
This appearance follows the private funeral of Lord Robert Fellowes, the husband of Diana’s other sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, attended by both Prince William and Prince Harry. Harry flew in quietly from California and stayed with their uncle, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, at Althorp, the childhood home of their late mother.
At the ceremony, William donned his summer beard and Wing Commander uniform as he addressed the new RAF graduates. The RAF, which relaxed its beard regulations in 2019, previously had stricter grooming policies.
The event held sentimental value for the Prince, who trained at the base and received his wings there in 2008 from his father, then Prince Charles, with Kate by his side.
In his speech, William emphasized the challenges of the present era, stating, “We live in a time of change and uncertainty, and you, as the future of the Royal Air Force, will ensure we adapt to face future threats.”
He also acknowledged the 54 new officers on parade, who underwent 24 weeks of intensive training.
While reflecting on his own experience at the base, William added: “Though I didn’t graduate on this parade ground, I completed my flying training here. I promise not to take too much of your time, but I want to highlight the importance of your achievements and the roles you’ll play in supporting your countries’ air forces.”
He continued by praising the multinational nature of the event, with officers from Jordan, Kenya, Pakistan, and Uganda among the graduates. He remarked, “Multinational relationships are vital to international defence, security, and peace. The connections you’ve made here will be essential in ensuring future success and the safety of our nations.”
