The Royal Family joins celebrations for The Royal Air Force's 100th Anniversary

Today marked the 100th Anniversary of the creation of the Royal Air Forces and members of The Royal Family attended several celebrations to honour the date.

The Royal Family has a long-standing commitment to the Royal Air Force, with four generations of the family having served or trained with the RAF, and many holding honorary ranks and patronages with RAF charities and associations.

 

 

The day began with a service at Westminster Abbey: an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the RAF’s achievements of the past 100 years, and to look forward to the next 100.

 

Next, focus turned to Buckingham Palace where The Queen presented a new flag – known as a ‘Colour’ – to the RAF Regiment before Her Majesty gave a speech. 

 

In the speech on the forecourt of the Palace, The Queen spoke of her father’s experience with the force and the RAF’s extraordinary achievements in its first 100 years.

"I remember the Battle of Britain being fought in the skies above us, and we shall never forget the courage and sacrifice of that time," - Her Majesty The Queen. 

A ‘feu de joie’ (ceremonial gunfire) and a spectacular fly-past of 100 RAF aircraft illustrated the history the Force and showed just how far its aircraft have evolved in the past century.

 

 

In the afternoon, The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of York, and Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a reception at Buckingham Palace. The reception was an opportunity to meet RAF veterans, serving personnel and their families.

 

 

On Horse Guards Parade other members of The Royal Family, including The Princess Royal, The Earl & Countess of Wessex, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent and The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, attended another reception. 

The members of The Royal Family watched a presentation of the #RAF100Relay – which has been carried throughout the UK by people with close ties with the Force for the last 100 days.

 

Find out more about The Royal Air Force 100 celebrations which will take place throughout 2018.