Queen Camilla paid her first official visit to the Grenadier Guards since becoming their Colonel-in-Chief, visiting the 1st Battalion at Aldershot.
Her visit coincided with medal presentations to ten soldiers who displayed exceptional service while deployed to Iraq last year. The Queen presented the medals to the soldiers and also attended a small reception for 30 officers.
After the Battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Johnson, toasted her with champagne, Queen Camilla replied, “Thank you very much, it has been a pleasure to be here. I look forward to seeing a lot more of you in the future.”
Queen Camilla then presented more medals to officers for long service, good conduct, and ten years of service. She also met privately with Lieutenant Colonel Johnson to discuss deployments and future activities.
“It was very special as it is the first time I have met any member of the Royal Family,” Lance Corporal Jamie McCulloch told the Press Association. “She was very friendly and seemed genuinely interested in who we were, and she met my parents, which was very kind of her.”
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson said, “She was wonderful, and it was a very special moment for us to introduce our new colonel. We found out in early January and were excited that she wanted to come and see us so quickly.”
The Grenadier Guards will be heavily involved in King Charles’s coronation this spring. The Royal Family’s social media shared, “Members of the @GrenadierGds returned from deployment in September to provide the Bearer Party for the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
“Looking ahead, the Battalion is very much looking forward to supporting state ceremonial duties in the coming months.”
Queen Camilla took over as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards in December after being appointed to the role by her husband, King Charles.
