During his visit to Estonia, Prince William traded his suit for a military uniform. The British heir to the throne participated in military exercises alongside troops from the United Kingdom. Photos of William piloting a Challenger 2 tank quickly circulated online.

The Prince of Wales traveled to Estonia, where he joined British soldiers in training exercises. The Tapa military base hosts the largest foreign unit of the British Armed Forces. According to international media, William was just 140 kilometers from the Estonian-Russian border. Seizing the opportunity, he donned a uniform and took the controls of a British-made Challenger 2 tank—similar to those currently used by Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russia.

Prince William was accompanied by Estonian Colonel Tarmo Kundla, the commander of the country’s armed forces. The prince also took time to speak with British soldiers stationed at the base.

The visit came at a critical moment in ongoing negotiations to end the war in Eastern Europe. The United Kingdom has been actively involved in forming a so-called „coalition of the willing” to send a stabilization mission to the contested region.

Another initiative has emerged among European leaders, as previously reported by Interia. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries are reportedly working on a „plan to replace the U.S. in NATO,” according to the Financial Times. The project aims to shift responsibility for the security of the European continent from the U.S. to Europe itself.

Currently, the UK maintains military forces in two countries on NATO’s eastern flank: Estonia and Poland.

Prince William has a long-standing connection with the military. In January 2006, he joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and graduated on December 15 the same year with the rank of second lieutenant. After completing his training, he became a rescue helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force. On January 1, 2009, he was promoted to captain in all three branches of the British Armed Forces: the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF. He also held honorary commander positions, including at HMNB Clyde in Scotland and in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

In 2010, he underwent eight months of training to pilot the “Sea King” helicopter in Anglesey. In February 2011, he was appointed Colonel of the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards. William ended his active RAF service in September 2013, having flown over 150 missions and logging nearly 1,300 flight hours in the “Sea King.”

In March 2015, he began working for Bond Air Services as a pilot for the air ambulance service in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

As the security situation in Europe evolves, discussions continue over Europe’s defense autonomy. With British forces stationed in both Estonia and Poland, Prince William’s visit underscores the UK’s ongoing commitment to regional stability.