Prince William fully embraced his military role during an official visit to Estonia on March 21st. As part of his trip to the Baltic state, which shares a border with Russia, he spent time with British troops stationed at Tapa Camp.
Dressed in camouflage fatigues, reflecting his position as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, he was there to gain insight into how soldiers are reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank under Operation Cabrit. During his visit, he met with Estonian troops to learn about their training experiences at the base, took part in a formal handover ceremony transferring authority from the British Army’s Royal Dragoon Guards to the Mercian Regiment, and actively participated in field exercises.
One of the most striking moments of the visit occurred when William rode in a Challenger 2 tank, a scene reminiscent of a childhood experience shared with his brother, Prince Harry. In 1989, the two young princes visited the Combermere Barracks in Windsor, England, where they donned miniature military uniforms and practiced their salutes atop a tank. Both William and Harry later pursued careers in the armed forces, beginning their journeys at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. William served in the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry before transitioning to an aviation career, first as a search and rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force in Wales and later as an air ambulance pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Although he retired from active service in 2017 to focus on royal duties, he maintains strong ties to the British military through various honorary positions and affiliations.
William was not the only royal to visit Estonia in a military capacity this year. His uncle, Prince Edward, traveled to the country in January for a similar engagement. Following in Edward’s footsteps, William continued the family’s tradition of supporting British forces abroad. Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, had visited Tapa Camp in his capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards.
Operation Cabrit, the mission that brought William to Estonia, represents the UK's commitment to NATO’s forward-deployed land forces in Estonia and Poland. This mission has taken on even greater importance in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The British royal family has been vocal in its support for Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, and William demonstrated that commitment firsthand. On Friday, he engaged in field training exercises alongside the Mercian Regiment, honing essential skills for operating in extreme conditions. His participation ranged from weapons training to tactical maneuvers, underscoring the significance of this deployment. His team shared images from the visit on social media, emphasizing his admiration for the dedication and expertise of the troops.
