Did Kate Middleton's Visit to Air Show with Prince William and Kids Hint at Her New Royal Role?

Kate Middleton visits the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023 in Fairford, England.Photo:Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton’s family field trip may have been a poignant precursor for her new military appointment.

Kate’ssurprise tripto a military air show with her husband,Prince William, and their three children —Prince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5 — earlier this summer may have been a subtle signal to her RAF appointment.

The Wales family visits the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023 in Fairford, England.Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

In July, the family of five stepped out at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales' family toured the aircraft that transported Queen Elizabeth’s coffin from Scotland to London following her death in September 2022, and George and Louis seemed especially excited about exploring some of the equipment.

“The family were all looking forward to the trip,” a royal source told PEOPLE of the outing, which came as a school vacation treat for William and Kate’s three kids.

The Wales family visits the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023 in Fairford, England.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In another family tie,Prince Williamflew as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, from 2010 to 2013. The prince’s RAF service overlapped with an extra special chapter in his personal life, as he married Kate in 2011 and they welcomed Prince George in 2013.

Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the RAF centenary flypast in July 2018.Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Like his wife, the palace announced that Prince William was also awarded three new military appointments on Friday, including an RAF-related rank. The heir to the British throne is officially the Colonel-in-Chief, The Mercian Regiment; Colonel-in-Chief, The Army Air Corps; and Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Valley — where he flew as a pilot in Wales!

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, Prince William is now a leader of his brother Prince Harry’s former unit. Harry, 38, passed his Army Air Corps “Grading” and Pilot’s Selection Board interview in 2008 before training as an Army Air Corps pilot in 2009, according to theroyal family’s website. He went on two tours of Afghanistan — as a Forward Air Controller from 2007 to 2008 and as an Apache Pilot from 2012 to 2013. During his time in the unit, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011.

Prince William and Prince Harry in 2009.Anwar Hussein/WireImage

The Duke of Sussexwas stripped of his three honorary military titles(Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command) after he and his wife,Meghan Markle, stepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020. The titles reverted to the crown.

AtQueen Elizabeth’s funeral in September, many members of the royal family sported military uniforms while Prince Harrywore a suit.

Prince Harry and Prince William at the vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty

An exception was made when Queen Elizabeth’s eight grandchildren stood a symbolic vigil at her coffin during her lying-in-state.Harry worehis military uniform"at the King’s request,“according to a palace source.

source: people.com