Queen toasts her father’s regiment
The Queen yesterday joked with members of the Royal Lancers about their capacity to drink beer in her first visit to their barracks since she was appointed colonel-in-chief. Speaking about her father’s time serving in the regiment, and wearing Elizabeth II’S Lancers brooch, Her Majesty said: ‘I shan’t ask about the NCOS’ capacity for beer.’
THE QUEEN joked about members of her late father’s regiment’s capacity to drink beer during her first visit to their barracks since she was appointed as colonel-in-chief.
The Royal Lancers carry a significant connection for Queen Camilla, 76, as her father Major Bruce Shand served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War.
Addressing her regiment for the first time at their North Yorkshire barracks, having become Colonel-in-chief last June, she reflected on his experiences and joked: “I shan’t ask about the NCO’S capacity for beer!”
Before quoting from Major Shand’s memoir Previous Engagements, she said: “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.”
“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!”
Wearing a blue Fiona Clare dress modelled on the Lancers uniform, as well as Elizabeth II’S Lancers brooch, Camilla was received by a royal salute before braving the rain to inspect some of the 152 men on parade.
She said: “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.”
Maj Shand was a 12th Royal Lancer who won the Military Cross during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940 and again at El Alamein in 1942.
In the foreword to a new book about the regiment, the Queen said her personal connections made her “enormously proud of the regiment’s long and illustrious history.”
On Monday, she spent time chatting with families and members of the Old Comrades Association, frequently commenting on the cold, wet weather.
Emma Wilson, whose husband is with the regiment, said: “She came from Scotland and said it was worse weather up there.”