Queen Camilla meets regiment - where her father served in World War Two - for first time as Colonel-in-Chief

22 April 2024, 13:09 | Updated: 22 April 2024, 15:38

The Queen has met the Royal Lancers, in which her father served during the Second World War, for the first time as its Colonel-in-Chief.

Camilla was named the patron of the regiment in June last year, taking the role over from Queen Elizabeth II after her death.

Her father Major Bruce Shand served in the 12th Lancers - which is now part of the Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths' Own) - and won a Military Cross for gallantry during the Battle of Dunkirk in the Second World War.

The 76-year-old inspected the outfit at their barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire, where she was shown the tunic belonging to her late father as well as a letter signed by him.

Camilla was greeted by Lord Lieutenant Jo Roper and Colonel of the Regiment Colonel Richard Charrington. The regiment then performed a royal salute while the Queen inspected and addressed the 152-person parade.

In her address, she said: "My father described the regiment as a 'highly efficient entity, highly skilled, and full of personalities'.

"I have no doubt that your upcoming deployments will be characteristically successful and will only add to our regiment's rich history."

The 76-year-old also met families and members of the Old Comrades Association (OCA) at a reception afterwards, before being shown the parade.

While at the barracks, she awarded five medals and met with now-retired Major Phil Watson, who wrote Their Greatest Hour.

The book records the 12th Lancers' involvement in the Battle of Dunkirk, and has a forward written by Camilla in which she says: "I am enormously proud of the Regiment's long and illustrious history."

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Buckingham Palace added that armoured vehicles - including the Humber and Dingo that Major Shand would have commanded - were on display during Camilla's visit.

The Royal Lancers were formed in 2015 when the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen's Royal Lancers were amalgamated.

Over the past 12 months, the armoured reconnaissance regiment has been deployed in Poland as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence and Kosovo Force.

As part of the 12th Royal Lancers, Camilla's father also won a Military Cross at El Alamein in North Africa in 1942 - Major Shand was captured on 6 November that year, during a battle in which the crew of his armoured car were both killed.

He was held in Spangenberg Castle in Germany until he made an escape early in 1945. He then left the army after the war.

(c) Sky News 2024: Queen Camilla meets regiment - where her father served in World War Two - for first time as Colonel-in-Chief