REPORT: EMILY NASH
D ays before members of the armed services join his spectacular coronation procession, the King presented his first regimental colours as monarch, voicing his thanks to the “talented men and women” who serve across the UK.
In a hugely symbolic moment before they support him on the most important day of his life, His Majesty presented the standard of the Life Guards to the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace.
Wearing his Field Marshal uniform, the monarch stepped forward to touch the fabric after prayers and a blessing over the regimental banner.
State trumpeters wearing new golden tunics emblazoned with the King’s cypher were seen for the first time during the ceremony.
His Majesty then presented colours to the Royal Navy, King’s Company of the Grenadier Guards and King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force in the garden, where he was joined by the Queen Consort, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards.
Her Majesty, who will be crowned alongside her husband, looked radiant in a red coat dress by Fiona Clare and striking matching beret by Philip Treacy, accessorised with her Grenadier Guards Colonel-in-Chief brooch.
The colours and standards that were consecrated will be seen during the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on 6 May.
Although regimental colours are usually renewed every ten or 12 years, the King’s Company colour, the royal standard of the Grenadier Guards, is a personal gift of the sovereign and is presented only once in each reign.
RARE PRIVILEGE
After the ceremony, the King addressed soldiers, sailors and aviators from a dais, telling them it had been “the greatest possible privilege” for him.
He said: “It is some 85 years since a King’s Colour has been presented and, on such a special occasion, I particularly wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you, as representatives of the three services, for your loyal service over the course of her remarkable reign to the late Queen, who, I know, held you all in such high regard.”
Praising their “diligence, professionalism and courage”, he went on: “The intense pride I feel in all you represent and stand for is second to
