Prince Harry, 42, has been jokingly called a "gangster" when he modestly highlighted a particular skill during a social media video for MasterClass, an online learning portal. He was being recorded to talk about the topic of grief, but when the interviewer asked him which other class he would teach, he simply said: "How to fly a helicopter," with a smile on his face. "Okay, gangster," the female interviewer could be heard saying, to which Harry laughed.
When did Prince Harry learn to fly a helicopter?
Harry's time in the army is where he honed the unique skill of being a helicopter pilot. In 2009, he started basic rotary-wing flight training, and the following year he was awarded his Army Flying Wings by his father, then-Prince Charles, when he passed his course.
© Photo: Getty ImagesBy July 2010, he was selected to specialise in the Apache attack helicopter and the following years saw him complete advanced training in America.
He formally qualified as a fully trained Apache helicopter pilot in 2012 and was deployed to Afghanistan on a 20-week combat tour as an Apache co-pilot gunner. By July 2013, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander.
Which other royals can fly helicopters and planes?
© Max Mumby/IndigoHarry's older brother Prince William can also pilot a helicopter, as he qualified as an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot and spent over two years flying as a full-time pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance in 2010. Their father, King Charles, has also spent time flying planes and helicopters, as did their late grandfather, Prince Philip. Quite the royal flex, it seems.
Prince Harry's other hidden talents
The Prince is naturally sporty; we've seen him on the polo field many times before, even lifting a trophy at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in April 2024.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesHarry took the California lifestyle quite literally when he moved stateside, and even took up surfing. The royal reportedly began taking surfing lessons in 2020,, when his wife, Meghan Markle, purchased lessons as a gift on his 36th birthday. He has since taken to the sport like a pro and has been filmed surfing effortlessly at Kelly Slater's professional Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California.
While we often see Harry's sporty side, we don't tend to see his creative one, however, he does hold an A-level in Art, where he was awarded a B. Perhaps the royal can paint as beautifully as his father?
