Today, The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of York, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra viewed a RAF Flypast to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, during an enhanced Changing the Guard.
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| Image By Sgt Neil Bryden RAF; MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses watched the Flypast of four Spitfires, two Hurricanes and four Typhoons (including one painted in a Battle of Britain paint scheme), from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
This was followed by a Feu de Joie (‘Fire of Joy’ – a celebratory cascade of rifle fire) given by the Old and New Guards found by The Queen’s Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force interspersed with the National Anthem played by the Central and Regiment bands of the Royal Air Force, and Three Cheers for The Queen, led by Air Vice-Marshal Richard Knighton, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.
The enhanced Guard Change was performed by the RAF Queen’s Colour Squadron (the first time the RAF has mounted consecutive Queen’s Guards) and was witnessed by guests with links to the Battle of Britain, including six remaining RAF Battle of Britain pilots. The ceremony also involved ten Standards – military flags carried on poles – of Battle of Britain squadrons still serving in the RAF today, as well as the RAF Central and Regiment bands.
Battle of Britain veterans are sometimes referred to as famous FEW. This text explains why: Never was so much owed by so many to so few was a wartime speech made by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on 20 August 1940. The name stems from the specific line in the speech, Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, referring to the ongoing efforts of the Royal Air Force crews who were at the time fighting the Battle of Britain, the pivotal air battle with the German Luftwaffe with Britain expecting a German invasion, as well as starting the dangerous bombing campaign over Germany.
Later a reception and lunch took place at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, attended by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Cambridge, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. The Members of the Royal Family joined the six remaining RAF Battle of Britain pilots and the squadron commanders of Battle of Britain squadrons still serving in the RAF at the reception.
After Molly: Getty Images has a lovely video of Sophie meeting Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson and their conversation is lovely:
Ken: Where's your old man?
Sophie: He's around here somewhere, probably chatting up other ladies I think!
Ken: Why not!
Sophie: Absolutely!
Ken: We may be old, senile and all the rest of it but we've still got an eye for a pretty girl!
Sophie: I'll go and find you one!
Squadron Leader Rick Evans, officer commanding the Queen’s Colour Squadron, said: “Today was a fantastic occasion and opportunity for the Queen’s Colour Squadron to mark the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary. It comes at the end of an extremely busy fortnight which also saw our gunners assist in the repatriation of British citizens killed in Tunisia. These two very different tasks demonstrate QCS’ ability to represent the RAF and the nation in very different ways but with the same professionalism, diligence and, ultimately, dignity.”
Leading the flypast in a Spitfire was Squadron Leader Duncan Mason, officer commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, who said: “For us, taking part today was an incredible honour. Events like these events don’t happen often, but today gave us – the RAF and the nation – the opportunity to commemorate and recognise those extraordinary feats 75 years ago.
“Knowing that six Battle of Britain veteran pilots were watching us as we flew the very same aircraft they won the battle in, was humbling and I hope we did them proud.”
Leading the Typhoon element of the flypast was Squadron Leader Steve Kenworthy, of 3(F) Squadron at RAF Coningsby, who said: “It was a real privilege to lead the Typhoon formation in today’s flypast over Buckingham Palace, not only in front of Her Majesty, but also for the Battle of Britain veterans to whom we owe so much.
The Battle of Britain (2015 is the 75th anniversary of the battle) ranks alongside the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo as one of the most significant in British history. It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War II. The RAF’s victory enabled the western Allies to later liberate Western Europe and compel the Nazis to fight on two fronts, leading to their consequent defeat.
10 July 1940 is widely acknowledged as the start of the Battle of Britain, with a series of Luftwaffe attacks on shipping convoys off England’s south-east coast. The RAF shot down 14 enemy aircraft and severely damaged 23 more, according to the Air Ministry at the time. 200 patrols were flown by RAF aircraft on 10 Jul 1940, involving 641 aircraft.
The Duke, a former RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, was present at today's anniversary, however his wife The Duchess, a former RAF wife, was absent, "prompting criticism from some who pointed out that she was not too busy to meet Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie last week or to go to the tennis next week." After Express: However, RAF spokesman said: 'The reason she is not there is that all of the members of the Royal Family on the balcony are honorary air commodores and she isn’t one.' Another source said Prince Philip had been the driving force behind the royal line-up at the 75th anniversary event. 'He wanted a full turnout of honorary air commodores,' the source said." Full article here.
HM The Queen - full list of HM's military appointments can be found here.
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| via MOD Twitter feed |
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| Image By: Corporal Ben Tritta; MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
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| MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 Pictured: Centre is Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, Chief of the Air Staff sitting with Battle of Britain veterans. |
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| MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 Front row from left to right Wing Commander Kane, Flying Officer Wilkinson, Sergeant Pickering, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, HRH Duke of Edinburgh, Wing Commander Farnes, Pilot Officer Wellum, Wing Commander Neil. Back row HRH Duke of Gloucester, HRH Princess Alexandra, HRH Duke of Cambridge, HRH Earl of Wessex, HRH Countess of Wessex, HRH Duke of Kent. |
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| MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 HRH Countess of Wessex meets Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, one of the six surviving Battle of Britain pilots from WWII. You can view interview with Mr Wilkinson here. |
Ken: Where's your old man?
Sophie: He's around here somewhere, probably chatting up other ladies I think!
Ken: Why not!
Sophie: Absolutely!
Ken: We may be old, senile and all the rest of it but we've still got an eye for a pretty girl!
Sophie: I'll go and find you one!
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| MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
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| MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
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| HRH Duke of Edingurgh and the Chief of Air Staff talk with guests. MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
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| HRH Duke of Cambridge talks with WWII veteran at the RAF Club. MOD/CROWN Copyright 2015 |
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| photo courtesy of photographer. Click on pic to view Paul Ratcliffe website. |
The Duke of Edinburgh - full list of The Duke's military appointments can be found here.
The Duke had a military career in navy until 1952. More here.
The Duke had a military career in navy until 1952. More here.
The Duke of Cambridge - Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Coningsby.
The Duke of Cambridge completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service. His Royal Highness began his career with the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) and later served with The Royal Air Force, with his final posting as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot. The Duke of Cambridge left operational service in the Armed Forces in September 2013. More info here.
The Duke of Cambridge completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service. His Royal Highness began his career with the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) and later served with The Royal Air Force, with his final posting as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot. The Duke of Cambridge left operational service in the Armed Forces in September 2013. More info here.
The Duke of York - Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth since 1996.
He followed in his father's footsteps and had a military career in navy with flying training. Full info can be found here.
The Earl of Wessex - Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Waddington (since 2008)
The Countess of Wessex - Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Wittering (since 2008)
The Duke of Gloucester - Honorary Air Commodore of No 501 (County of Gloucester) Logistics Support Squadron & Royal Air Force Odiham. Also Honorary Air Marshal of The Royal Air Force.
The Duke of Kent, Honorary Air Chief Marshal, and Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Station Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. You can read more about Duke's Military career and involvement by clicking here.
Prince Michael of Kent - Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Benson (since 2002) and in 2012 was promoted to Honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force. More about Prince's military involvement here.
The Countess of Wessex - Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Wittering (since 2008)
The Duke of Gloucester - Honorary Air Commodore of No 501 (County of Gloucester) Logistics Support Squadron & Royal Air Force Odiham. Also Honorary Air Marshal of The Royal Air Force.
The Duke of Kent, Honorary Air Chief Marshal, and Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Station Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. You can read more about Duke's Military career and involvement by clicking here.
Prince Michael of Kent - Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Benson (since 2002) and in 2012 was promoted to Honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force. More about Prince's military involvement here.
Princess Alexandra - Patron and Air Chief Commandant of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS).
Article by Daily Mail here. Lovely gallery at Zimbio, I adore two images of Sophie with veteran Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson. Video of flypast here, of lunch here.
Outfit & jewellery:
Seen during 1st day of Ascot 2015. You can read about it here.
Seen during 1st day of Ascot 2015. You can read about it here.
Hat by Philip Treacy, which debuted in 2008 if I am not mistaken.
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