Prince William's forgotten family make surprise show of support for royal

Prince William was given a show of "support" from his auntie as he held a parade for an RAF officer graduation ceremony.

William, 42, wore his beard with his Wing Commander uniform at RAF Cranwell, Lincs - possibly the first time he has been seen hirsute in uniform.He delivered an address to the new officers on the parade ground, saying: "We live in a time of change and uncertainty, and you, as the future of the Royal Air Force, are the ones who will ensure that we are able to adapt and face future threats."

And was joined at the bash by his aunt Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 69, who is his aunt Princess Diana's sister. It is understood Lady Sarah heard her nephew was at the event and turned up to show "support".

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She lives 15 miles from RAF Cranwell, in Grantham, and she served a one-year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 2009. It comes after Harry and William both attended their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes' funeral last month and the Duke of Sussex stayed at Althorp with Earl Spencer on 27th anniversary of Princess Diana's death.

William arrived for the two hour ceremony and inspected the graduates and took the salute before handing prizes to the college's 'top guns'. The prince passed his officer training at Sandhurst but gained his 'wings' at Cranwell after flight training in 2008.

Speaking about his time at the RAF training base, he said: "I am delighted to see so many family and friends here – I know their love and support will have been instrumental in getting you to this point. Whilst I didn’t graduate on this exact Parade Ground, I did graduate from flying training here so I know something about the celebrations that will come later."

The passing out ceremony was topped with a deafening flypast from an RAF Typhoon jet.

Speaking to graduates inside the college afterwards, he said: "The dias shook'. And added: "You've got to have a flypast just to go out in style."

The parade included graduates from the Commissioned Warrant Officers Course and Modular Initial Officer Training Course. In total 48 Royal Air Force Cadets graduated at the parade, alongside four International Officer Cadets from Jordan, Kenya, Pakistan and Uganda.

The cadets have undergone up to 24 weeks of intensive training, which prepares them with the skills and knowledge required to set the foundations for a successful career in the RAF. Afterwards, he joined graduating officers, their friends and families in the College Dining Room to hear about their experiences of the training programme and their hopes for their future careers.

Lady Sarah McCorquodale was seen in the same room behind William chatting to his staff. William continued to wear his beard which he debuted over the summer.

The RAF relaxed its ban on beards on September 1 2019 - meaning this is likely to be the first time William has been seen in uniform with facial hair. Pilot Officer Alexandra Manseer-Jeffrey said after the ceremony: "It's a real honour as he (William) knows what we are going through. He was here for flying training so he knows what we have been through."