Catherine, The Princess of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, will visit the regiment for the first time on Wednesday 8th November. Catherine headed to the small Norfolk village of Swanton Morley for the first introductory visit.
The Princess was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG) by His Majesty The King in August this year. This visit allowed Her Royal Highness to receive a brief introduction into the regiment and the operations they carry out, as well as meet families of QDG who live nearby.
About the engagement, Kensington Palace, “The QDG have been active for over 300 years, having been formed in 1959 from the amalgamation of the two senior Cavalry regiments, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards and The Queen’s Bays. The QDG specialise in reconnaissance: the art of seeking out the enemy and understanding how they operate. Since their formation, the QDG have moved all over the world and most recently, from June 2021 to June 2022, were deployed to Mali as part of a peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission“.
As this was, Kate’s first visit to QDG she was briefed on the regiment from several senior officers who discussed their own military careers and experiences. They talked about what operational life is like for servicemen and women. Kate Ormston, 31, whose 38-year-old husband Staff Sergeant Paul Ormston is attached to the regiment, was with their two children when she spoke to the Princess of Wales.
The Princess of Wales got behind the wheel of a Jackal 2 – the British Army’s high-mobility weapons platform. Corporal Darreyl Tukana, a driving instructor who sat beside Kate in the Jackal 2, said afterwards: “She was a natural. She drives a Land Rover back at home – I told her it’s exactly the same, just take it slowly and go back to where we started off from. She was enjoying every bit of the journey itself. It’s different from what she’s driving, it’s a bigger vehicle.”
During the visit, The Princess of Wales, Kate, was presented with the Queen’s Dragoon Guards brooch, which was made in 1959 for the Queen Mother, who also served as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, during her visit.
The Princess also awarded long service and good conduct medals and took a moment to remember those lost in active service ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
Before leaving, Kate promoted the regimental mascot – a pony called Trooper ‘Longface’ Emrys Jones, from Lance Corporal to Corporal.
The engagement came ahead of the annual Remembrance weekend. On Saturday evening, the Prince and Princess of Wales will join the King and Queen for the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. And on Sunday they will attend the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph.
What The Princess of Wales wore to visit 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG)
- Holland Cooper Double Breasted Blazer – (Repeat – Debuted in May 2021)
- Holland Cooper Astoria Fern Green Knit – (Repeat – Debuted in March 2023 )
- UFO Jeans
- See by Chloe Leather Trimmed Suede Ankle Boots – (Repeat – Debuted in January 2019)
- Spells of London Teardrop Garnet Charm Gold Hoops – (Repeat – Debuted in March 2023)
In Other news we have a Tiara day coming up. King Charles III will be hosting The President of the Republic of Korea from Tuesday 21st November to Thursday 23rd November. The Prince and Princess of Wales will officially receive the President and First Lady ahead of the Military welcome and then will attend the State Banquet hosted by the King at Buckingham Palace.
🇰🇷🇬🇧 The President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, accompanied by Mrs Kim Keon Hee, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guest of His Majesty The King from 21st to 23rd November 2023.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 8, 2023
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