91Èȱ¬

The Queen has presented a series of medals to active and retired members of the regiment her father served with in World War Two.

Queen Camilla presented five Buchan Medals to Royal Lancers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire on Monday.

There was an homage to her late father, Maj Bruce Shand, who served with the 12th Lancers.

This was her first visit to the regiment since being appointed as its Colonel-in-Chief in June 2023.

Soldiers in the Royal Lancers are often known as being the "eyes and ears" of the British Army.

They are trained to fight using a wide range of equipment, from drones to sniper rifles and anti-tank missiles.

Maj Shand had served in the regiment and won the Military Cross during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940 and again at El Alamein in North Africa in 1942.

He was captured on 6 November 1942, during a battle in which the crew of his armoured car were both killed and he was seriously injured.

The Queen's father was held in Spangenberg Castle, in Germany, until he escaped in early 1945 - and he went on to then leave the Army after the war.

During her visit, the Queen met with Maj Phil Watson, who served for 35 years with the regiment.

He was also the author of Their Greatest Hour, a book which followed the story of her father and the rest of the 12th Lancers guarding the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force's withdrawal to Dunkirk.

Maj Watson showed the Queen her late father's tunic, which was recently purchased by the barracks.

Speaking to 91Èȱ¬ Radio York, he said: "It was through an online auction, we put a bid in and got it at a reasonable price."

He explained that the tunic was from a particular "snapshot in time", after Maj Shand was awarded the Military Cross but before he was captured.

"All the rest of his medal ribbons aren't there for World War Two, why?", he added.

"Because he'd been captured and he had to wait until the end of the war to get them.

"We know that it's not been interfered with because if somebody had known who it was, they probably would have over-embellished it to get a sale."

Maj Watson said that the tunic was an "amazing find" and was special for the Queen, but just as special for everyone there.

"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity," he said.

Military families also went along to the event to watch the parade and the Queen's short speech.

Major Ed Minards, who attended with three generations of his family, called the experience a "real privilege", adding that it was "fantastic" to have a daughter of the regiment as their Colonel-in-Chief.

His wife Maria said: "I think the ceremony, the music, the marching and having such a special visitor was incredible.

"It was really important for the children to see that and feel part of the regiment."

Queen Camilla was also pictured signing the visitors' book, before leaving through a guard of honour and a procession.

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