Action Wills! Bearded Prince of Wales dons camouflage gear as he takes part in drills with the Welsh Guards in Salisbury

  • Reading time:10 min(s) read
Movie channels                     Music channels                     Sport channels

  • William 42, was flying solo during his visit as Colonel of the regiment 
  • READ MORE: Prince William reveals he’s had the ‘hardest year in my life’ following Kate and King Charles cancer diagnoses during Cape Town visit 

Prince William marvelled at high-tech drones and tried his hand at firing a sniper’s rifle as spent the morning with the Welsh Guards in Salisbury today. 

William, 42, donned combats this morning when he spent time with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment – a ceremonial role he has held since December 2022.

Tuesday’s visit to the Salisbury Plain marks William’s second royal engagement in as many days, after he inaugurated a new environmental project together with Oman’s Crown Prince in London yesterday. 

For the past two years, the Battalion has led a number of historical ceremonial events – including the funeral for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and as Trooping their Colour for His Majesty’s first Birthday Parade last year. 

Additionally, the regiment has been carrying out overseas operations in the Falkland Islands and Oman. 

But they are now transitioning back to Field duties and William’s visit was designed to see how the officers have been dealing with the change in pace – particularly regrowing the regiment’s specialist weapons capabilities to bolster their work abroad and in the UK. 

William was dressed in combats and a beret as he arrived at the Salisbury Plain by helicopter, before changing into a protective vest and helmet – ready for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp. 

William, 42, donned combats this morning when he spent time with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment - a ceremonial role he assumed in December 2022

William, 42, donned combats this morning when he spent time with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment – a ceremonial role he assumed in December 2022 

After arriving in Salisbury by helicopter, William (left) changed into a protective  vest and headgear - ready for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp

After arriving in Salisbury by helicopter, William (left) changed into a protective  vest and headgear – ready for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp 

Members of the Welsh Guards seen preparing a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) for William to test out

Members of the Welsh Guards seen preparing a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) for William to test out  

William in conversation with the Welsh Guards' six-person sniper team

William in conversation with the Welsh Guards’ six-person sniper team 

William (right) appeared to enjoy a lighter moment with soldiers from the regiment, as he learnt about the Welsh Guards' artillery

William (right) appeared to enjoy a lighter moment with soldiers from the regiment, as he learnt about the Welsh Guards’ artillery 

The prince – who has used guns in the armed forces before – was then invited to sit down and shown his sight. 

He spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke and air.

Afterwards, William said: ‘I really enjoyed that.’ 

William then met the Welsh Guards’ sniper team, who were wearing camouflage gear, before acknowleging the regiment’s officers have ‘done more than your fair share’ of ceremonial events. 

He continued: ‘It’s been fairly busy this year. You’ve only got a few more days. It’s not long I’m going to make sure my father doesn’t squeeze in too many more moments! 

The platoon commander told MailOnline that the rifle William fired had a capability of a 400m metre head shot in the first round with 900 metre for a body shot, but can issue ‘harassing fire’ up up to 1,500 metres. 

He added that William was aiming at a steel body target poking up out of a tank skeleton around 500 metres away and hit it, adding he ‘seemed to really like’ the training. 

While visiting the Welsh Guards, William (right) was also offered the chance to fly one of the battalion¿s new £7,500 drones which are ¿transforming¿ warfare

While visiting the Welsh Guards, William (right) was also offered the chance to fly one of the battalion’s new £7,500 drones which are ‘transforming’ warfare 

William seen here watching as the senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator demonstrates how to operate the high-tech piece of equipment

William seen here watching as the senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator demonstrates how to operate the high-tech piece of equipment  

William watching the drone mid-flight in this image from his visit to the Welsh Guards in Salisbury

William watching the drone mid-flight in this image from his visit to the Welsh Guards in Salisbury

William pictured here examining the drone more closely before he tried his hand at flying it

William pictured here examining the drone more closely before he tried his hand at flying it  

Drones like the one William is holding provide significant advantage to commanders and soldiers on the ground

Drones like the one William is holding provide significant advantage to commanders and soldiers on the ground

William is seen here with one of the regiment's drones

William is seen here with one of the regiment’s drones 

The drone leaving William's hand as officers watch on. This is William's second time meeting the Welsh Guards as their colonel this year

The drone leaving William’s hand as officers watch on. This is William’s second time meeting the Welsh Guards as their colonel this year 

Soldiers watching closely as the Small Unscrewed Aerial System (sUAS) in William's hand (centre-right) takes off safely

Soldiers watching closely as the Small Unscrewed Aerial System (sUAS) in William’s hand (centre-right) takes off safely  

One of the highlights of William's visit to the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire was presumably the opportunity to watch these new drones in action

One of the highlights of William’s visit to the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire was presumably the opportunity to watch these new drones in action 

William photographed here smiling slightly as the sAUS climbs higher

William photographed here smiling slightly as the sAUS climbs higher  

‘It meant a lot to have him here today,’ the platoon commander, who cannot be identified for security reasons, continued.

‘It was brilliant. He is down to earth, he knows the blokes, he’s got a finger on the pulse of them and their mentality. He engaged with them really well.’ 

While William is flying solo today, he was accompanied by Princess Catherine as they honoured the Welsh Guards during the St David’s Parade in Windsor last March – which marked William’s first time visiting the Battalion since assuming his royal role. 

In a short speech at the time, William said he was ‘honoured and delighted’ to be their new Colonel, taking over the ceremonial role held by his father, the former Prince of Wales, Charles. 

William – who was himself commissioned from Sandhurst and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a troop tank commander before joined RAF Search and Rescue – added that it must be ‘good for morale’ that the battalion was back in the field during Tuesday’s visit.  

He was later invited to join a group firing 7.62m General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs). 

‘That sounds awesome,’ he said. 

This time, the prince – who was also sporting ear defenders – lay down to grab hold of the gun and rattled off a complete round. 

The battalion¿s senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator explained afterwards that the prince operated the drone on ¿follow me¿ and ¿cameraman¿ mode

The battalion’s senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator explained afterwards that the prince operated the drone on ‘follow me’ and ‘cameraman’ mode 

The prince looking excited as he expertly controls the drone, as the sUAS operator told MailOnline he was 'really impressed' by it

The prince looking excited as he expertly controls the drone, as the sUAS operator told MailOnline he was ‘really impressed’ by it 

William also asked the men whether they got enough time off to spend with their families. 

‘Don’t worry, he’s too far away, he can’t hear you,’ the prince said, jerking his head back towards the commanding officer, prompting guffaws of laugher. 

While visiting the Welsh Guards, William was also offered the chance to fly one of the battalion’s new £7,500 drones which are ‘transforming’ warfare. He held up the drone as it took off and then took hold of the controls. 

‘I bet there’s a lot of paperwork on this,’ he joked. 

The battalion’s senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator explained afterwards that the prince operated the drone on ‘follow me’ and ‘cameraman’ modes, which allows them track individual enemies. 

‘He was really impressed by it,’ he added, referring to William’s reaction to the high-tech piece of equipment. 

The sUAS operator told MailOnline that having William present for training ‘is great morale and great leadership’. 

The battalion’s machine gun platoon commander told the Mail that the gun fired by William was a ‘staple’ weapon that had been used for more than half a decade and creates a ‘beating zone’, an oval-shaped area where the bullets don’t land in the same place. 

It has a range of 1,800 metres through its ‘iron sight’, which the prince was using today. 

The prince - who has used guns in the armed forces before - was then invited to sit down and shown his sight

The prince – who has used guns in the armed forces before – was then invited to sit down and shown his sight

William spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke and air

William spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke and air

William also joined a group firing 7.62m General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).  This time the prince - who was also sporting ear defenders - lay down to grab hold of the gun and rattled off a complete round

William also joined a group firing 7.62m General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).  This time the prince – who was also sporting ear defenders – lay down to grab hold of the gun and rattled off a complete round

The battalion¿s machine gun platoon commander told the Mail that the gun fired by William (left) was a ¿staple¿ weapon that had been used for more than half a decade and creates a ¿beating zone¿, an oval-shaped area where the bullets don¿t land in the same place

The battalion’s machine gun platoon commander told the Mail that the gun fired by William (left) was a ‘staple’ weapon that had been used for more than half a decade and creates a ‘beating zone’, an oval-shaped area where the bullets don’t land in the same place 

Prince William (left) firing a machine gun

Prince William (left) firing a machine gun 

Prince William (left) was named colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022

Prince William (left) was named colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022

While William was flying solo today, he was accompanied by Princess Catherine as they honoured the Welsh Guards during the St David's Parade in Windsor last March

While William was flying solo today, he was accompanied by Princess Catherine as they honoured the Welsh Guards during the St David’s Parade in Windsor last March

The guns are used whenever troops are moving to suppress the enemy and stop them firing on their men. 

After he commended William’s shooting skills, the officer said it is ‘very special’ to have the royal ‘as our colonel’. 

He continued: ‘It’s amazing for morale for the guys, especially when they have been doing a lot of ceremonial duties, [for him to] come down on a visit like this. It is special. 

‘We can get hands-on and show him what is done. That means a lot to them.’

William’s trip to the Salisbury Plain comes one day after he joined Oman’s Crown Prince His Royal Highness Theyazin bin Haitham to inaugurate an ambitious new environmental initiative at London’s Royal Geographical Society on Monday. 

As co-patrons of the Jewel of Arabia Expedition, William and Theyazin unveiled the project that aims to highlight both Oman’s rich biodiversity and heritage,m as well as the environmental pressures facing the country. 

The trek has been designed to promote the biodiversity and heritage of Oman but also highlight the environmental pressures facing the country.

The expedition team will be retracing the steps of British explorer Bertram Thomas who made the journey in 1928. Thomas kept diaries of his travels, accompanied by photographs and detailed maps of the area.

William (centre) previously said he was 'honoured and delighted' to be the new Colonel of the Welsh Guards, after taking over the ceremonial role held by his father, the former Prince of Wales, Charles

William (centre) previously said he was ‘honoured and delighted’ to be the new Colonel of the Welsh Guards, after taking over the ceremonial role held by his father, the former Prince of Wales, Charles 

William speaking with personnel from the Specialist Platoons

William speaking with personnel from the Specialist Platoons

During his trip, William learnt about the work the regiment has been doing as they steer themselves away from ceremonial duties and back to the Field Army

During his trip, William learnt about the work the regiment has been doing as they steer themselves away from ceremonial duties and back to the Field Army 

William seen wearing protective gear before joined the soldiers for a series of live firing practice drills

William seen wearing protective gear before joined the soldiers for a series of live firing practice drills 

The Prince, who himself went through Sandhurst and then joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as an officer where he worked as a troop tank commander, also observed how various other weapons are used by the Welsh Guards

The Prince, who himself went through Sandhurst and then joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as an officer where he worked as a troop tank commander, also observed how various other weapons are used by the Welsh Guards

William during his visit to the Salisbury Plain, where the Welsh Guards have been carrying out live firing training, on Tuesday

William during his visit to the Salisbury Plain, where the Welsh Guards have been carrying out live firing training, on Tuesday 

William's rugged appearance will no doubt leave royal fans delighted, as the father-of-three sported a full beard

William’s rugged appearance will no doubt leave royal fans delighted, as the father-of-three sported a full beard  

The Prince of Wales received a briefing on the work the regiment has been carrying out and met personnel from the Specialist Platoons

The Prince of Wales received a briefing on the work the regiment has been carrying out and met personnel from the Specialist Platoons

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Colonel of the Welsh Guards (C) speaks with military personnel from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Colonel of the Welsh Guards (C) speaks with military personnel from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards 

While Prince William does not plan to fly to Oman in January to join the expedition, he told guests he would ‘try and make something happen’ in the future as regards a visit.

The prince added: ‘We’re in the planning process.’

Williiam was invited by his Omani counterpart to be a co-patron of the expedition because of his focused conservation efforts and activism – including launching the Earthshot Prize in 2019 when he was the Duke of Cambridge. 

Speaking at the London launch of the Jewel of Arabia expedition, William said he was ‘delighted’ one of the previous winners of his Earthshot Prize hailed from Oman.