Prince Charles was among the honored guests at the socially-distanced graduation ceremonies of this alma mater, RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire, on Thursday, where he also planted a lime tree in honor of the school's centenary.
In a full RAF ceremonial uniform, the Prince of Wales was pictured grabbing a shovel as he worked on the spot where the tree will stand. He also inspected the ranks of the current crop of cadets who committed to complete their training despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Even while wearing gloves, there was no handshaking when Prince Charles handed the awards to the top cadets. The event was also held outdoors without the presence of the graduates' friends and families to reduce the chances of a coronavirus spread.
In his speech to the graduates, the Prince of Wales said that he was "immensely impressed" that the cadets finished their training despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. The heir to the British throne said that this graduation has been a testament to their determination and flexibility. He said he hoped the graduates would be able to carry over this same determination when they start their new careers as members of the Royal Air Force.
Later after the ceremonies, Prince Charles joined the graduates in different socially-distanced group circles as they talked about their experiences. The royal was beaming and was looking very animated in his conversations with the officials and the cadets.
Prince Charles received his pilot wings from RAF College Cranwell in 1971. However, after his investiture as the Prince of Wales the same year, he went on to study at the Britannia Royal Naval College to follow in his father's footsteps and build his own naval career.
While with the Royal Navy, the Prince of Wales earned qualifications to fly with the 845 Naval Air Squadron of the HMS Hermes. He ended his navy service in the late '70s and used the money from his severance pay to establish his own charity, the Prince's Trust.
Prince Charles continued to fly occasionally and even handled the Queen's official aircraft. In 1995, Prince Charles became Group Captain with the Royal Air Force and then eventually became an honorary five-star ranking official of the three branches of the armed forces. In 2012, Prince Charles was named the Marshal of the RAF, the British Royal Air Force's highest rank.
In 2008, Prince Charles returned to RAF College Cranwell to attend the graduation of his eldest son, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.
