Queen Camilla wears military-inspired outfit for special first Royal engagement
Queen Camilla made history today, looking stunning in a military-inspired outfit as she took part in her first Royal engagement as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers.
Camilla, 76, met with members of the Royal Lancers regiment and veterans at their barracks in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. This marked her first visit since becoming Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth's Own) last June, a role previously held by her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
For the occasion, Camilla donned a navy coat by Fiona Clare, inspired by the Royal Lancers uniform. The coat featured gold buttons, a bright red mandarin collar, and chain mail on the shoulders.
She completed the look with a matching red beret adorned with the regimental brooch and another Royal Lancers brooch, once owned by the former monarch, pinned to her coat.
Upon arrival at the garrison, Camilla was welcomed by Lord Lieutenant Jo Roper and Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel Richard Charrington. The regiment performed a Royal salute, and the Queen inspected and addressed the lancers in the 152-person parade with a heartfelt speech, reports the Mirror.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, expressed her deep connection to the Lancers during her visit, saying: "The Lancers have always struck me for their family spirit, whose comfort and support I experienced as a daughter of the Regiment, and I'm delighted to see so many families and members of the Old Comrades Association here today. Particularly now, as so many of your loved ones look to deploy overseas."
She later presented five medals to deserving recipients and explored the officers' mess, where she encountered retired Major Phil Watson, author of Their Greatest Hour, which details the 12th Lancers' role in the 1940 Battle of Dunkirk.
Having penned the foreword for Their Greatest Hour, Camilla has a personal link to the 12th Lancers through her father, Major Bruce Shand, who was awarded a Military Cross for his bravery in the same battle. During her visit, she had an emotional moment when she saw the Lancers tunic her father wore.
Additionally, Camilla examined a letter penned by her father to the father of one of his troop sergeants, who had been recognised for bravery. Tim Hercock from the Regimental Museum reflected on the significance of the event, stating: "I think it was a really moving occasion for her to enjoy. She was a) really interested and also I think quite awestruck. To see something that your father's written 80 years ago, let alone while he's fighting a battle, is something that's really quite personal to her."
The Queen expressed her heartfelt connection to the Royal Lancers as she was gifted a silver model of a lancer on horseback, remarking that she would "treasure it" and reflecting on her father's pride in her role. "I know wherever my father is, he'd be so pleased I've got this role," she shared.
The Royal Lancers, an esteemed armoured reconnaissance regiment, came into being in 2015 following the amalgamation of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen's Royal Lancers. To honour their Royal connections, "(Queen Elizabeths' Own)" was appended to the regiment's name, signifying their ties with both the late Queen and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
In the past year, the regiment has shown its mettle by serving in Poland as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence and in Kosovo with NATO's Kosovo Force, as per Buckingham Palace.
Camilla's engagement occurred just one day after she accompanied King Charles to church in Balmoral. Despite undergoing cancer treatment, King Charles, whose diagnosis was made public in early February, continues to perform his Royal duties discreetly within the palace.
