Camilla, the Queen Consort, has visited the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire for the first time since becoming Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own) last June.
She met serving Royal Lancers and veterans during the visit, and was shown a tunic belonging to her father, Major Bruce Shand, and a letter written by him.
The Queen said her father would be “so pleased” with her new role.
Camilla was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers in June 2022, following the death of her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of the oldest and most distinguished regiments in the world.
Catterick Garrison is a large military base in North Yorkshire, and is home to a number of units of the British Army.
During her visit, Camilla also viewed a letter her father had written to the father of one of his troop sergeants, who had been awarded a medal for bravery.
She also signed the visitors book and was presented with a silver model of a lancer on a horse, which she said she would “treasure”.
Camilla left through a guard of honour and a street-lining procession.
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Robin Davies said it was a “really exciting” to have the Queen visit the regiment.
He said: “It’s a unique privilege to have a relationship with her and for her to visit us is wonderful.”
“The highlights are her meeting our soldiers. Our soldiers are tremendous, they’re wonderful, they’re inspirational, and for her to meet them and their families is a unique experience.”
“She treasures her relationship with the Lancers, she is a Lancer. She remembers her childhood, her father was a regimental officer, and so this is coming home.”
