In a seldom-seen joint public appearance, King Charles and Princess Anne engaged in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where the king cautioned that the nation is still grappling with numerous threats and challenges.
The King and the Princess Royal, in her capacity as colonel of the Blues and Royals, carried out the ceremonial duty of presenting the new Sovereign's Standard to the Blues and Royals squadron of the Household Cavalry. The occasion occurred on the grounds of Buckingham Palace in the early afternoon.
The siblings were greeted with a trumpet fanfare upon their arrival. King Charles donned the uniform of a Field Marshal while Princess Anne appeared in the colonel uniform of the Blues and Royals, which she had previously worn to the recent Coronation.
As the ceremony unfolded, 35 soldiers and 27 horses formed a formation in the quadrangle where the new standard was to be presented. The new standard, made from silk damask adorned with golden embroidery bearing the Royal Arms and the regiment's battle honors, was consecrated by Chaplain General Padre Tom Sander and Padre Ian Rogers before King Charles bestowed it.
The King briefly made contact with the Standard before handing it over to Major Peter Ireland, who commands the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Following this, King Charles addressed the gathering, reflecting on the long-standing relationship between the squadron and the monarchy, and lauding the dual roles the soldiers carry out.
In his address, King Charles stated, "Presenting your new standard today fills me with immense pride. It signifies the enduring bond between the Blues and Royals and the Sovereign, tracing its roots back to before the Restoration in 1661."
Charles acknowledged the ceremonial and operational roles the soldiers undertake, and praised their recent active service, noting, "I am aware that some of you are currently deployed on duty with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus."
In these difficult times, both domestically and internationally, he emphasized the importance of maintaining such high standards of performance and accomplishment. He thanked the troops for their unflinching service and commitment, expressing his and Princess Anne's gratitude.
King Charles entrusted the newly presented standard to the Sovereign's Escort mounted troop, which marched past the royals, delivering a second salute. Following the brief ceremony, the King and Princess Anne met with some of the guests present.
The ceremony is traditionally held every ten years, with the last Standard presented by the late Queen in May 2014. The handcrafted Blues and Royals standard was produced by Wyedean, a family business based in Haworth, West Yorkshire.
The newly consecrated standard will be showcased at the King's inaugural Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour, this Saturday.
