King presents new Colours to Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle
Troops from the 1st and 2nd Battalions paraded on Friday morning before the King's official birthday celebrations in London this weekend.
The soldiers marched from Victoria Barracks through Windsor town centre, accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards, before entering the castle.
The Band of the Coldstream Guards enter the Quadrangle during a ceremony at Windsor Castle (Henry Nicholls/PA)
The old Colours were formally marched off to the sound of Auld Lang Syne.
Around 1,000 guests watched the event in the roasting sun inside the Quadrangle, with around another 100 members of the public gathered outside the castle gates trying to catch a glimpse.
A traditional drumhead service followed, with regimental drums stacked to form a makeshift altar.
The new Colours were laid on top and consecrated by the Chaplain-General.
The King, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, touched each Colour before formally presenting them to the Guards.
Charles is Colonel-in-Chief of the Coldstream Guards (Henry Nicholls/PA)
'It gives me enormous pride, as your Colonel-in-Chief, to be able to present these new Colours to you today in the presence of the wider Regimental family,' he said.
'Each and every one of you on parade today is now part of that great legacy.'
The new Colours display 44 of the regiment's 113 battle honours, ranging from Tangier in 1680 to the Gulf in 1991.
They also bear the eight-pointed Star of the Order of the Garter and the King's Crown, featured for the first time in 70 years.
'These Colours, encompassing your richly deserved battle honours, are a gallant testament to the outstanding courage, fortitude and spirit that the Regiment has always displayed throughout our nation's history,' the King said.
He also paid tribute to the families of serving soldiers, adding: 'I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks for your tremendous, unwavering support and encouragement.'
The flags were positioned on the drum stack, a makeshift altar created from regimental drums, during the ceremony (Henry Nicholls/PA)
The Coldstream Guards are the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army, founded in 1650 during the English Civil War.
They serve both in frontline military operations and in ceremonial duties, including guarding royal residences.
They have recently deployed to Iraq, supported training efforts in Ukraine, and delivered military instruction in West Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
'You have done so much to support both Ukraine, and the United Kingdom's own security,' the King said.
After the presentation, the Colours were returned to the regiment's ensigns, who took up position in front of the parade.
The Guards then gave three cheers and a Royal Salute before marching off.
The King remained in the Quadrangle later in the day to meet serving guardsmen, families, veterans and the bereaved.
The King inspects the regiment (Henry Nicholls/PA)
The youngest soldier on parade was 18, while the oldest was a 67-year-old veteran.
Later Ensign Lieutenant Max Martin, 24, who was mentioned by the King during his address, told the PA news agency: 'It was an absolutely incredible day.
'It caught me completely off guard – first thing I thought about was my mum and dad in the stands and how excited they would have been to hear my name.
'I tried my best not to let out a grin but as His Majesty pushed up the King's Colour and said good luck for tomorrow I couldn't help but have a little smirk to myself.
'The eagle eyes of the Garrison Sergeant Major were watching me so I tried to cover it up but I couldn't help myself.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Grenfell community gathers for final anniversary before tower demolition begins
The Government announced earlier this year that the remains of the building will be brought down. It is thought the earliest that demolition will start is September and the process is expected to take around two years. On Saturday evening, the annual silent walk will take place in west London to mark eight years since the blaze, followed by the reading of the names of the 72 dead, and speeches by campaigners. The memorial beneath Grenfell Tower in west London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) What is left of the tower has stood in place in the years since the disaster, with a covering on the building featuring a large green heart accompanied by the words 'forever in our hearts'. News of the Government's demolition decision earlier this year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors of the 2017 fire who expressed their upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was taken. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner later said in an interview that she knew the meeting with those most closely affected was going to be 'really difficult' and that there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower. Views have varied, with her department acknowledging there had been hopes for some of it to remain in place as a memorial to what happened while others had reported this would be 'too painful'. The Government confirmed in February that engineering advice is that the tower 'is significantly damaged' and will get worse with time. Separately, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with recommendations including a 'sacred space', designed to be a 'peaceful place for remembering and reflecting'. It is expected a planning application for a memorial could be submitted in late 2026. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower (Jonathan Brady/PA) The Government said it will also share further information about plans for a second site where materials from the tower 'which are not used in the memorial, or conserved, will be safely and respectfully laid to rest'. Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn said this year's anniversary will be 'all the more poignant by the fact that this is the last time that we will meet with the tower in situ'. He added that it is difficult to think the tower will be pulled down 'before we have obtained any justice and while there are still people living in buildings with dangerous cladding'. According to the Government's latest figures, published last month, there were 5,052 residential buildings in England which are 11 metres or taller identified as having unsafe cladding as of the end of April. Fewer than half – 2,477 buildings or 49% – had either started or completed remediation works, with just a third – 1,652 buildings or 33% – having had remediation works finished. Labour unveiled its remediation acceleration plan last year, pledging that, by the end of 2029, all buildings more than 59ft (18m) tall with unsafe cladding that are on a Government scheme will have been remediated. For buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding, within the same timeframe those will either have been remediated, have a date for completion or the landlords will be liable for severe penalties, the Government said. A spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin, which represents some of the bereaved, said: 'Eight years have passed, yet it feels just like yesterday when we frantically moved from door to door, hospital to hospital, searching for our loved ones. 'Our parents, children, partners, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, were lost to a tragedy that was both horrific and unjust. The aftermath has been equally devastating.' They said they have been 'granted one final chance to visit inside and pay our last respects' ahead of the 'dismantling of the Tower—a site where our loved ones were turned to ashes'. The story of what happened at Grenfell, and the failures which led to the fire, are explored in a new documentary which will air on Netflix on June 20.
Western Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Grenfell community gathers for final anniversary before tower demolition begins
The Government announced earlier this year that the remains of the building will be brought down. It is thought the earliest that demolition will start is September and the process is expected to take around two years. On Saturday evening, the annual silent walk will take place in west London to mark eight years since the blaze, followed by the reading of the names of the 72 dead, and speeches by campaigners. The memorial beneath Grenfell Tower in west London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) What is left of the tower has stood in place in the years since the disaster, with a covering on the building featuring a large green heart accompanied by the words 'forever in our hearts'. News of the Government's demolition decision earlier this year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors of the 2017 fire who expressed their upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was taken. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner later said in an interview that she knew the meeting with those most closely affected was going to be 'really difficult' and that there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower. Views have varied, with her department acknowledging there had been hopes for some of it to remain in place as a memorial to what happened while others had reported this would be 'too painful'. The Government confirmed in February that engineering advice is that the tower 'is significantly damaged' and will get worse with time. Separately, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with recommendations including a 'sacred space', designed to be a 'peaceful place for remembering and reflecting'. It is expected a planning application for a memorial could be submitted in late 2026. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower (Jonathan Brady/PA) The Government said it will also share further information about plans for a second site where materials from the tower 'which are not used in the memorial, or conserved, will be safely and respectfully laid to rest'. Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn said this year's anniversary will be 'all the more poignant by the fact that this is the last time that we will meet with the tower in situ'. He added that it is difficult to think the tower will be pulled down 'before we have obtained any justice and while there are still people living in buildings with dangerous cladding'. According to the Government's latest figures, published last month, there were 5,052 residential buildings in England which are 11 metres or taller identified as having unsafe cladding as of the end of April. Fewer than half – 2,477 buildings or 49% – had either started or completed remediation works, with just a third – 1,652 buildings or 33% – having had remediation works finished. Labour unveiled its remediation acceleration plan last year, pledging that, by the end of 2029, all buildings more than 59ft (18m) tall with unsafe cladding that are on a Government scheme will have been remediated. For buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding, within the same timeframe those will either have been remediated, have a date for completion or the landlords will be liable for severe penalties, the Government said. A spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin, which represents some of the bereaved, said: 'Eight years have passed, yet it feels just like yesterday when we frantically moved from door to door, hospital to hospital, searching for our loved ones. 'Our parents, children, partners, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, were lost to a tragedy that was both horrific and unjust. The aftermath has been equally devastating.' They said they have been 'granted one final chance to visit inside and pay our last respects' ahead of the 'dismantling of the Tower—a site where our loved ones were turned to ashes'. The story of what happened at Grenfell, and the failures which led to the fire, are explored in a new documentary which will air on Netflix on June 20.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Grenfell community gathers for final anniversary before tower demolition begins
The Government announced earlier this year that the remains of the building will be brought down. It is thought the earliest that demolition will start is September and the process is expected to take around two years. On Saturday evening, the annual silent walk will take place in west London to mark eight years since the blaze, followed by the reading of the names of the 72 dead, and speeches by campaigners. The memorial beneath Grenfell Tower in west London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) What is left of the tower has stood in place in the years since the disaster, with a covering on the building featuring a large green heart accompanied by the words 'forever in our hearts'. News of the Government's demolition decision earlier this year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors of the 2017 fire who expressed their upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was taken. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner later said in an interview that she knew the meeting with those most closely affected was going to be 'really difficult' and that there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower. Views have varied, with her department acknowledging there had been hopes for some of it to remain in place as a memorial to what happened while others had reported this would be 'too painful'. The Government confirmed in February that engineering advice is that the tower 'is significantly damaged' and will get worse with time. Separately, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with recommendations including a 'sacred space', designed to be a 'peaceful place for remembering and reflecting'. It is expected a planning application for a memorial could be submitted in late 2026. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said there was 'not a consensus' among everyone over what should happen to the tower (Jonathan Brady/PA) The Government said it will also share further information about plans for a second site where materials from the tower 'which are not used in the memorial, or conserved, will be safely and respectfully laid to rest'. Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn said this year's anniversary will be 'all the more poignant by the fact that this is the last time that we will meet with the tower in situ'. He added that it is difficult to think the tower will be pulled down 'before we have obtained any justice and while there are still people living in buildings with dangerous cladding'. According to the Government's latest figures, published last month, there were 5,052 residential buildings in England which are 11 metres or taller identified as having unsafe cladding as of the end of April. Fewer than half – 2,477 buildings or 49% – had either started or completed remediation works, with just a third – 1,652 buildings or 33% – having had remediation works finished. Labour unveiled its remediation acceleration plan last year, pledging that, by the end of 2029, all buildings more than 59ft (18m) tall with unsafe cladding that are on a Government scheme will have been remediated. For buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding, within the same timeframe those will either have been remediated, have a date for completion or the landlords will be liable for severe penalties, the Government said. A spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin, which represents some of the bereaved, said: 'Eight years have passed, yet it feels just like yesterday when we frantically moved from door to door, hospital to hospital, searching for our loved ones. 'Our parents, children, partners, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, were lost to a tragedy that was both horrific and unjust. The aftermath has been equally devastating.' They said they have been 'granted one final chance to visit inside and pay our last respects' ahead of the 'dismantling of the Tower—a site where our loved ones were turned to ashes'. The story of what happened at Grenfell, and the failures which led to the fire, are explored in a new documentary which will air on Netflix on June 20.
