Prince William and Crown Prince Hussein Bond Over Shared Love of Flying During RAF Base Tour
WINDSOR — The Princess of Wales delighted royal watchers with an unexpected appearance at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, October 15, joining Prince William to welcome Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa to the United Kingdom.
A Warm Welcome Between Royal Friends
Kate, 43, looked effortlessly elegant in a tailored tan Roland Mouret suit paired with a cream blouse, styling her hair in soft waves for the occasion. The Princess recycled the camel-colored ensemble she first wore to a charity event in September 2023, demonstrating her commitment to sustainable fashion.
Prince William, also 43, complemented his wife in a navy suit with a magenta tie as the couple greeted their Jordanian counterparts at the historic royal residence.
The visit marked Princess Rajwa’s first official trip to the UK as Jordan’s future queen. The mother of one chose sophisticated attire for the reception, wearing a white shirt with a strapless black waistcoat and matching trousers.
Special Connection to Jordan
The warmth between the two royal couples stems from genuine friendship and shared history. William and Kate attended Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa’s lavish wedding ceremony in June 2023, while the Jordanian royals were present at King Charles’s Coronation in May of that year.
Jordan holds particular significance for Kate, who spent three formative years there during the early 1980s. When she was just two years old, her father Michael Middleton, a British Airways manager, was relocated to Amman. The Princess attended an English language nursery before the family returned to Berkshire in 1986.
During a 2018 Middle East tour, Prince William revealed Kate’s fondness for the country, telling officials: “She loved it here, she really did. She is very upset that I am coming here without her.”
Flying High: Princes Bond at RAF Benson
Following the Windsor reception, Prince William accompanied Crown Prince Hussein to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, where both trained helicopter pilots reminisced about their aviation experiences.
“Flying is my happy place,” William confessed to former colleagues at the base, which provides rapid support for UK military operations worldwide.
The future king served three years with the Search and Rescue Force, completing 156 operations that rescued 149 people before leaving the Armed Forces in 2013. He later flew missions with the East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years until July 2017.
Nostalgia for the Sea King
During the visit, William spoke passionately about his time flying Sea King helicopters on rescue missions. “I miss the Search and Rescue glory days,” he admitted. “When I hear that noise as it flies past, it goes straight to my heart.”
The Prince revealed he maintains his flying skills despite losing some proficiency. “When you learn that skill set, you just don’t want it to go,” he explained. “I like to keep on top of my flying, keep doing it.”
Both royals received insights into RAF operations through conversations with trainee staff and aircrew from No. 22 Squadron and No. 28 Squadron. They even participated hands-on, helping tighten a nut on a Chinook rotorhead using a torque wrench.
After the wrench clicked satisfactorily, William joked: “You will check before it goes back into service. I don’t want to be responsible.”
Crown Prince Hussein completed his pilot training with the Royal Jordanian Air Force in 2019, while William trained at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley.
A Friendship Spanning Years
The friendship between Prince William and Crown Prince Hussein dates back to at least 2018, when William visited Jordan and famously watched the World Cup with Hussein in his “man cave” at Beit Al Urdun Palace.
During that visit, William toured the Roman ruins at Jerash, where Kate had been photographed as a child, promising photographers: “We’ll have to bring the kids next time.”
The Wales family fulfilled that promise when they vacationed in Jordan in 2021, visiting the ancient city of Petra with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. A photograph from that trip became their Christmas card that year.
Royal Praise and Mutual Respect
Queen Rania of Jordan has previously expressed admiration for Kate’s dedication and authenticity. “Princess Catherine, when she talks about her work, her face lights up,” the Queen said. “She does it out of a sense of duty but more importantly, she does it because she absolutely cares.”
Queen Rania, who serves as a council member for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize launched in 2020, added: “She gives from the heart. There is a sense of sincerity and a sense of love in everything that she does.”
Before meeting Kate at Windsor, Princess Rajwa joined Princess Eugenie for an engagement highlighting mental health charity work, marking another connection between the British and Jordanian royal families.
The Jordanian royals’ visit reinforces the strong diplomatic and personal bonds between the two nations and their royal families, with both couples sharing common values of service, duty, and dedication to their future roles as monarchs.
