The King was left “profoundly shocked” by the fatal Royal Navy helicopter crash and said the service of those killed was “held in the highest regard”.
Charles spoke publicly for the first time about the crash in Devon earlier this week as he presented new colours to Royal Marines Commando units during a Windsor Castle ceremony.
He was making his first appearance since a National Audit Office report into the royal family’s residential property arrangements revealed the King foots the bill for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s accommodation in royal palaces despite them being non-working royals.
It also found their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on his Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent for more than two decades.
Charles, who flew helicopters with the Royal Navy in the 1970s, described himself as a “Junglie”, the affectionate nickname for the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force, during a speech to Royal Marines on parade and hundreds of veterans, families and friends.
The King said: “I also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge with the greatest sadness the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter on Wednesday.
“As a former Junglie pilot 845 Naval Air Squadron, I was profoundly shocked to hear this most tragic news. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and colleagues of those involved.
“Their service is held in the highest regard, and they remain very much in our prayers.”
Before the event began a minute’s silence was held for the Royal Navy helicopter crash victims, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green, who all died in the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, just before 4am on Wednesday.
Lieutenant Fisher was Britain’s only serving female commando.
Charles, who has written privately to the families of those killed in the crash, went on to say: “I know that this devastating incident would have affected every one of us here today. However, it is most heartening to see the representatives of some of our oldest and closest international allies and partners present on this very special occasion.
“I can only pray that these bonds of friendship, forged through shared ordeals based on shared ideas, continue in the years ahead.”
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