Camilla becomes colonel-in-chief of the Royal Lancers in tribute to her father

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has taken on the role of colonel-in-chief of the Royal Lancers, a regiment that her father, Bruce Shand, served in. Shand was a lieutenant for the 12th Lancers and fought in World War II, serving in France, helping to organize the evacuation from Dunkirk, and later fighting in North Africa. In 1942, he was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Oflag IX-A/H, near Spangenberg Castle, for the rest of the war. Camilla spoke to a veteran after her appointment, telling Michael de Burgh, 99, that her father had longed for her to be associated with his old troop. She also presented de Burgh with the Buchan Medal to commemorate his support for the regiment. Camilla gifted him with “Previous Engagements,” her father’s memoirs of his time as a serviceman, as well as a chocolate birthday cake.

The formation of the Royal Lancers

The 12th Lancers were formed in 2015 when the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen’s Royal Lancers were amalgamated. After their formation, they had the words “Queen Elizabeths’ Own” added to them in honor of their association with the late Queen and Queen Mother.

Camilla’s additional honors

Camilla was recently named an additional member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the country. The announcement was made in the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honors List 2023, which was published by the New Zealand government on Monday. The late Queen Mother had close ties to New Zealand and visited the country ten times during her platinum reign. During their visit to New Zealand in 2019, Camilla and her husband, King Charles, participated in public walks, visited a winery, and experienced a traditional wreath-laying ceremony.

Overall, Camilla’s appointment as colonel-in-chief of the Royal Lancers is a tribute to her father’s legacy of service during World War II. Her additional honor from New Zealand also recognizes her contributions to the country. The formation of the Royal Lancers and their association with the late Queen and Queen Mother demonstrate the enduring nature of the British monarchy and its ties to its military history.