Queen Camilla Honors Royal Lancers in Her First Visit as Colonel in Chief

Queen Camilla recently visited the Royal Lancers at Catterick, North Yorkshire, marking her first official engagement with the regiment since being appointed as Colonel in Chief last June. The visit held a personal resonance for Her Majesty, as her late father, Major Bruce Shand, served with the 12th Lancers during World War II.

Addressing the troops and attendees, Queen Camilla reflected on her father’s experiences and the enduring spirit of the regiment. She recalled, “As I approached Catterick this morning for my first visit as your very proud Colonel-in-Chief, I couldn’t help but recall my father’s description of his initial impressions of the 12th Lancers when he joined the Regiment back in 1937. ‘Everyone was very welcoming and the atmosphere was relaxed…I was taken under the wing of the Adjutant, as nice a man as ever lived and a quietly efficient soldier.’” via Sky News.

She continued, highlighting the continuity and camaraderie that still characterizes the Lancers today, “Today, 87 years later, I am delighted to see that the atmosphere amongst the Lancers remains welcoming and relaxed and that you still have a very nice, quietly efficient Adjutant… although I shan’t ask about the NCOs capacity for beer!”

Queen Camilla’s visit also included lighter moments as she interacted with the families of the soldiers. Among them was five-year-old Edie Pritchard, who had practiced her curtsey for days in anticipation of meeting the Queen. Though shy in the moment, her quick curtsey and subsequent retreat behind her mother was a touching highlight. Mrs. Pritchard later shared her impressions of the visit, noting, “Because she is linked to the regiment through her family it doesn’t just feel like a day job when she’s here, it feels like she wants to be here. There’s a real sense of that when you chat to her. She’s interested and she cares and that is really really lovely.”

The Queen concluded her visit by wishing the troops well, saying, “I wish you all Godspeed over the coming months, the greatest of good fortune and a very safe return.” Additionally, Colonel Richard Charrington presented Queen Camilla with a trophy to commemorate her inaugural visit.

This memorable day not only reinforced the historical bonds between the Royal Lancers and the royal family but also underscored Queen Camilla’s commitment to her role as Colonel in Chief.