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British RoyalsKing Charles III

Camilla presents medals to 4th Battalion The Rifles

The Duchess of Cornwall recently visited with the 4th Battalion The Rifles regiment to present medals for their service overseas in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a speech at the ceremony at Aldershot, Camilla said: “You have proven your steadfast courage and tenacity in the most challenging of circumstances, and lived up to your exacting motto ‘Swift and Bold.’”

In her 14 years as Colonel-in-Chief of the 4th Battalion Rifles, Camilla said she had seen the soldiers deployed on five operational tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, calling it a “remarkable, and gruelling, achievement.”

She added: “Speaking from experience, as a soldier’s daughter, I must pay tribute to the families gathered here today – who in their own right deserve equal recognition. They have remained by your sides throughout, kept the ‘home fires’ burning and have been a constant source of comfort and strength when it was needed most, particularly in a year when we have all longed to be reunited with the ones we love. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to their continued support.”

And speaking of the regiment’s future, in which they will train under the Army’s Special Operations Brigade, Camilla said: “As you trailblaze this new path and forge a new character and identity, the legacy of the 4th Battalion The Rifles shall be one of relentless professionalism and glittering achievements that will live on. Whilst your name may have changed, your connection to The Rifles will continue and as your Royal Colonel, or perhaps now 4th Battalion Chief Ranger!

“I look forward to going on this journey with you. Each one of you should feel immensely proud of the reputation you have earned, and I could not think of a better Unit to, once more, write a new chapter in this regiment’s proud history – rest assured that I will be following your progress with great pride and interest.”

The Duchess of Cornwall took over as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles in 2020, taking the position from her father-in-law, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose last public engagement was to attend a hand-over service last summer. She had been Colonel-in-Chief of the 4th Battalion since 2007.

Since then, Camilla has been actively involved in visiting The Rifles regiments in England and Scotland.

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.