King Charles and Princess Anne take lead at important military parade

King Charles and Princess Anne joined up for an important military event on Monday afternoon as the Household Cavalry received new Standards at Windsor Castle.

The King serves as Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Cavalry and Princess Anne serves as Colonel of the Blues and Royals. The Life Guards and the Blues & Royals make up the Household Cavalry, the seniormost regiments in the British Army.

Together with Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne, Colonel of the Life Guards, they watched the Household Parade. The King presented the new standards, which represent the “history, achievements and identity” of each regiment, to the commanding officers.

In a speech, King Charles said: “At such a time of global uncertainty, it is of crucial importance to preserve the attributes of excellence and achievement for which you are famous, and which are symbolized by these Standards. Emblazoned as they are with the battle honours earned by the blood, toil, tears and sweat of soldiers past, they are the embodied soul of the Regiment. I know you will cherish them, and as your Colonel-in-Chief, I commend these Standards to your safe-keeping as a source of honour and inspiration to all of you, whether on parade in London, or overseas. Carry them with pride, that you may do your duty and serve your Country well.”

The new Standards were made of silk damask with gold and silver embroidery and displayed on silver kettle drums. King Charles said that they “remain a physical reminder of the very personal bond between the Sovereign and the Regiments of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals” and are “a golden thread that connects the present to an illustrious past” that dates back to pre-Restoration.