Prince Charles - now King - has visited Oxfordshire on many occasions including RAF Brize Norton and RAF Benson.

He spent some time in the RAF before embarking on a career in the Royal Navy.

On the day of the Coronation we feature these archive photos.

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In March 1971, Prince Charles flew himself to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire to train as a jet pilot.

He had been given flying instruction from the RAF during his second year at Cambridge University.

On July 29, towards the end of his stay at Cranwell Prince Charles, accompanied by two fellow cadets, made his first parachute drop from an Andover into Studland Bay, Dorset

Later that year, after passing out at RAF Cranwell, he embarked on a career in the Royal Navy, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and both great-grandfathers.

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On being appointed Colonel in Chief of The Parachute Regiment on June 11 1977, Prince Charles asked to take part in the Parachute Training Course and in 1978 he attended Parachute Course 841a at RAF Brize Norton.

Oxford Mail:

The course lasted from April 17 to April 28.

According to the ParaData website, the Prince felt he could not "look them in the eye" or wear The Parachute Regiment's famous Red Beret and Para Wings, unless he had done the course.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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