Force’s week of celebration

THE NEWS of the new Number 11 group came 24 hours after a high-profile celebration of the Royal Air Force with a flypast over central London.

The Queen has praised the Royal Air Force for its “tenacity, skill and gallantry” as she was joined by senior members of the royal family at the centrepiece of events on Tuesday marking the force’s 100th year.

Standing in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace as she presented the Queen’s Colour to the RAF, she spoke of the “remarkable contribution to defence” over the last 100 years. A vast array of more than 100 RAF aircraft roared and thundered across the skies of London.