It is, however, a title many thought might have gone to Harry.

Here's Duncan Kennedy.

From King to Prince, from father to son, this was a day of symbolic and personal handovers.

After three decades as Colonel-in-Chief, King Charles passed the regimental belt and blew beret to Prince William, marking the moment the role changed hands.

The setting for today's ceremony was by an Apache helicopter, the kind that Prince Harry once flew in Afghanistan.

Some commentators have suggested he might have been considered for the role of Colonel-in-Chief had he not stood back from royal duties.

The King made no mention of that as he met families of the aircrew before speaking about his confidence in William's future role.

I do hope you'll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new Colonel-in-Chief.

The great thing is he's a very good pilot indeed, so that's encouraging.

One change of clothes later, Prince William, himself a trained helicopter pilot, stepped into his new role by meeting aircrews, some of whom have seen combat service everywhere from Afghanistan to Iraq.

We're extremely fortunate to have the King, then Prince of Wales, as our Colonel-in-Chief, and to see that handed over formally today has been fantastic.

Later, in a pair of twin take-offs, the King left in a royal helicopter whilst Prince William took the front seat of an Apache, the day of transition completed at the home of the Army's Air Regiment.

Duncan Kennedy, BBC News, in Hampshire.