Sweet moment girl, 5, charms Queen Camilla with curtsy she’s been ‘practicing for days’ as Queen visits the Royal Lancers – the unit her late father served in – for the first time as Colonel in Chief

Queen Camilla sweetly met young children of soldiers as she visited The Royal Lancers in North Yorkshire for the first time since being appointed as their Colonel-in-Chief.

The regiment carries a special personal connection for Camilla, 76, as her late father Major Bruce Shand MC and Bar served with the 12th Lancers during World War Two and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravely. 

Heading to the barracks today, Her Majesty,  sporting a striking military-inspired outfit with chain mail at the shoulders met with youngsters, who were very so excited to meet the Queen.

Five-year-old Edie Pritchard had spent days perfecting her curtsies before meeting the Queen for the first time today, but quickly became overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.

Shortly after handing Camilla a beautiful posy of flowers, the youngster jumped up and down on the spot before quickly running to shield behind her mother, Georgie Pritchard, who continued to chat with the Queen about the weather.

Mrs Pritchard, whose husband is Major Tom Pritchard the officer commander of B Squadron, said: ‘She’s been so excited for a week she was at home practicing her curtises.

‘I only told her today that she would be handing the flowers over to her as I thought it would be too much for her.

‘She was absolutely thrilled, it’s the dream of every girl to meet the Queen.’

She went on to say the Queen’s visit meant so much to the Regiment, and said; ‘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.’

Other little ones bowed down to the royal, with one boy saying: ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty’ before being commended on his ‘great bow’.

The young fans then shook Camilla’s hands, before she remarked: ‘You’ve got cold fingers, you’ll have to warm those up’. 

Her Majesty, who took the appointment last June, wore a a blue Fiona Clare dress modelled on the Lancers uniform with a red mandarin collar and a jaunty beret with the regimental brooch in that had belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was the previous holder of the position.

Interestingly, the designer’s son is also a Captain in the Lancers and was present at today’s event.

The Queen was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant, Jo Ropner, and Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel Richard Charrington at Cambrai Lines within Munster Barracks at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

She was then received by a Royal Salute before braving the rain to inspect some of the 152 Lancers on parade.

Camilla then gave a deeply personal speech, recalling her father’s first impression of the Regiment as relaxed and friendly – particularly the senior NCOs who he later write ‘took my education in hand and tactfully but firmly directed my floundering steps. They were very competent nannies with a decidedly un-nanny like capacity for beer’.

Eight-seven years later, she added, the atmosphere was happily unchanged but quipped: ‘Although I shan’t ask about the NCOs capacity for beer!’

Referring to the forthcoming deployments to Poland, Kosovo and Cyprus, 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.

‘During the British Expeditionary Force’s withdrawal to Dunkirk, battling against insidious tiredness, poor mapping, and an ever-advancing enemy force, my father reflected: “My troop were wonderful” and “I know as a Troop Leader how much I owe to these…soldiers”.

‘As you look towards a deployment of challenge and complexity, I know this fierce Lancers camaraderie will be replicated as you strive to make our world a safer place.

’I wish you all Godspeed over the coming months, the greatest of good fortune and a very safe return.”

The Queen then watched as the Regiment conducted a march past, accompanied by several past and present armoured vehicles, including the HUMBER and DINGO from WW2, which her late father would have commanded, as well as the modern WARRIOR and BULLDOG vehicles.

She also 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.’

Camilla’s father, Major Bruce Shand, served in the 12th Lancers and won a Military Cross for gallantry during the withdrawal to Dunkirk in 1940 and again during the Second Battle of El Alamein in North Africa.

The Royal Lancers is an armoured reconnaissance regiment formed in 2015 when the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen’s Royal Lancers were amalgamated.

The words ‘(Queen Elizabeths’ Own)’ were later added to reflect the regiment’s association with the late Queen and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Over the past 12 months The Royal Lancers have been deployed in Poland as part of Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence and Nato’s Kosovo Force, Buckingham Palace.

In her element today, the Queen chatted to soliders and even met a young baby as she met  families and members of the Old Comrades Association (OCA) at a reception, before giving a speech to troops.

 

 Captain Al Aldridge, whose mother Fiona Clare designed the Queen’s dress she wore today, said Camilla’s speech was “hugely poignant”.

He said: “She referenced her father and I think that shows that her connection to the Regiment is that much stronger. It solidifies us as being a family regiment.”

Captain Aldrige went on to say he was “incredibly proud” of his mother for designing her dress and explained that the buttons on her dress are regimental buttons and the scarlet piping was a nod to the Regiment’s colours.

After the parade, Camilla headed inside where she met families and members of the Old Comrades Association.

She chatted with the guests before visiting the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess where she presented five Buchan Medals to serving and retired Lancers.

The honour is awarded to any serving or retired member of The Royal Lancers or its antecedents who have contributed in some conspicuous manner to the efficiency or military honour of the Regiment over a protracted period.

Camilla then headed to the Officers’ Mess where she met Commanding Officer Major Phil Watson, the author of Their Greatest Hour, a book which recounts the story of 21 days during which the 12th Lancers guarded the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force’s withdrawal to Dunkirk in 1940.

The Queen’s father, who was then a subaltern in A Squadron, won a Military Cross for gallantry during the battle.

He then showed Camilla, who wrote the foreword to the book, her late father’s tunic for the first time.

The item of military clothing is to be put on public display at the Regimental Museum in Derby, following its purchase at auction by the Regiment.

The Queen was then shown several letters written by her late father and a photograph taken at the Alamen 50th anniversary dinner on October 21, 1992.

“I wonder who I recognise here,” Camilla asked as she inspected the picture that included her late father.

After mingling with guests at the Officers Mess, the Queen was presented with a silver trophy by Colonel Richard Charrington.

He said he hoped she would be able to find a place for it, to which Camilla responded: “I certainly shall, it’s absolutely marvellous.”

She continued: “For many many years I have been hankering to have the role. I know that he [my father] shall be so pleased that I have got this role.”

After signing the visitors book, Camilla left though a guard of honour and a spectacular street-lining procession where a loud three cheers marked her departure.

The late Queen, who would have celebrated her 98th birthday yesterday, was formerly Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers.

The Regiment was formed in 2015, after the Queen’s Royal Lancers and the 9th’12th Royal Lancers were amalgamated.

They are an Armoured Cavalry Regiment that forms part of 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team and serve as an elite reconnaissance unit.

In the past 12 months, they have been deployed on numerous operations and exercises, including to Poland as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence and as part of NATO’s Kosovo Force.

This year, the Regiment is set to adopt a new role, working with the brand-new Ajaz fighting vehicle.