William was colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps, a military unit previously headed by Harry.

Harry will have found it ‘painful’ seeing William given his old military unit (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry will have found it “painful” to see King Charles and Prince William share a touching moment as the future monarch was handed

Earlier this week, the King made William colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps, a military unit previously headed by Harry.

The ceremony took place as Harry was preparing to head for Nigeria for his tour of the country alongside Meghan Markle.

The Times’ Royal Correspondent, Roya Nikkah, says that, while Harry and Meghan’s Nigeria tour will be raising eyebrows, Harry will also be pained by the sight of William bolstering his affinity with the military.

Speaking on The Royals podcast, she said: “I suspect when the Palace and the King look at those images of Prince Harry and Meghan (in Nigeria), they think ‘ooo…they are going down quite well. How does that make us feel?’

William and The King posed in front of a helicopter (Image: Getty)

“But I also think Harry looks at William in combats, being handed the colonelcy by his father, and I suspect that is painful for Harry, even though he might say it is not. I suspect it hurts him a little bit.”

A royal author has claimed this week that William was “furious” with Harry and Meghan’s tour of Nigeria

Tom Quinn told the Mirror that the couple’s trip “confirmed the worst fears” of Harry’s family.

He said: “Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there — the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled.

Harry and Meghan’s Nigeria tour angered the royals, it has been claimed (Image: Getty)

“Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him.

“For Charles and William, it’s as if Meghan and Harry are saying, ‘We don’t need your permission to be working royals — we will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we like.

“William and Charles are scratching their heads and thinking, ‘How are we going to control this nightmare situation?’”