The Prince and Princess of Wales visit Army Training Centre Pirbright

The Prince and Princess of Wales have visited Army Training Centre Pirbright to meet Troops from the Commonwealth who have been deployed to the UK to take part in the state funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

Soldiers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand have gathered at Pirbright to rehearse their roles in the ceremony.

Their Royal Highnesses met senior representatives of the defence staff and service people from each nation to thank them all for the part they are playing in the State Funeral.

Of the contingents Their Royal Highnesses are meeting today, Her Majesty The Queen had the following involvement:

Royal Australian Navy (RAN): The first campaign medal featuring Her Majesty The Queen’s effigy was issued in 1953 on the Korean War Medal. HMAS Vengeance escorted the Royal Yacht though Australian waters during Her Majesty The Queen’s first visit in 1954. In 1986 Her Majesty The Queen honoured the RAN’s 75th birthday by dedicating its national memorial in Canberra.

Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.

Royal Australian Army Ordinance Corps: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. Her Majesty chose the design for a Sovereign’s Banner for the Corps as part of her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Royal Australian Engineers: Her Majesty The Queen assumed the role of Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. The Corps was granted a Sovereign’s Banner during Her Majesty The Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. One enduring tradition was the Corps always presented Her Majesty The Queen with a dozen roses on her visits to Australia.

Royal Australian Infantry: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.

Royal Australian Air Force Reserve: Her Majesty The Queen was Air Commodore-in-Chief.

48th Highlanders of Canada: One of the first regiments to have a connection with Her Majesty The Queen, the then Princess Elizabeth was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1947.

Canadian Armed Forces Legal Branch: A Royal Banner was granted in 2021 to mark the Branch’s Centenary.

Governor General’s Foot Guard: Her Majesty The Queen became Colonel-in-Chief in 1988.

Régiment de la Chaudière: Princess Elizabeth became Colonel-in-Chief in 1947. Her Majesty hosted the Regiment at a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2006.

Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.

Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Captain-General in 1964.