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Queen Camillais stepping out for a new royal role.
On Tuesday, the Queen Consort traveled to see the Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion, at the Lille Barracks in Aldershot, England. The visit was Queen Camilla’s first sincebecoming Colonelof the celebrated regiment in December 2022, a role that previously belonged to her brother-in-lawPrince Andrew.
Camilla, 75, was radiant in red as she met with members of the battalion and their families. The royal voiced her gratitude when commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Johnson raised a champagne toast in honor of her first visit, PA reported viaThe Independent.
“Thank you very much, it has been a pleasure to be here. I look forward to seeing a lot more of you in the future,” Queen Camilla said.
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She also presented medals, awarding distinctions to 10 soldiers for outstanding service in Iraq last year and two servicemen for length of service, per PA.Lt. Col. Johnson, who sat next to Camilla during a group photo, said it meant much that she visited the regiment just a few weeks after becoming the ceremonial Colonel.
“She was wonderful, and it was a very special moment for us to introduce our new colonel,” he told the outlet. “We found out in early January, and we’re excited that she wanted to come and see us so quickly.”
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In related royal appointments following the accession of King Charles,Prince Williamwas named Colonel of the Welsh Guards (taking over after his father became monarch) whileKate Middletonwas appointed Colonel of the Irish Guards, stepping into her husband’s former role. (Queen Elizabethnamed her grandsonas honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, just two months before Kate and William’s royal wedding, where the groom sported the red Irish Guards officer uniform for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.) The new royal role is a fitting one for the Princess of Wales, who has beenhonoring that guards regimentmost St. Patrick’s Day holidays since marrying into the royal family in 2011.
Earlier this month, Buckingham Palaceconfirmedthat Queen Camilla,Prince Williamand Princess Kate will attendTrooping the Colourthis June in their ceremonial military roles.
source: people.com
