Tennis’ biggest Royal fan has given up his seat at Wimbledon’s semi-final day for the chance to meet men and women from the Royal Air Force and see their new Colour paraded for the first time at Fairford’s Royal International Air Tattoo today.
President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, looked on as members of Queen’s Colour Squadron (QCS) paraded the Colour, presented to the RAF earlier in the week by his cousin, Her Majesty The Queen.
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Crowds were wowed by the precision teamwork between the QCS and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as the rich drone of Merlin engines from the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane filled the parade square, flying over at the exact moment the Royal Salute was called.
The impressive ceremony concluded a week of celebrations and commemorations marking the RAF’s one hundredth anniversary.
The RAF Regiment were again at the centre of events, displaying their now famous ‘RAF 100’ continuity drill formation. With thirty two years of RAF service behind him, parading today was Flight Sergeant Andrew Harding. He explained how members of QCS had prepared for the unique display.
“One of the junior NCOs sketched it out on paper, we then went out and proved it with the guys, and then we put it into sync and added the music. It looks complicated but it’s quite simple.”
Flight Sergeant Andrew Harding
Originally from North London, Flight Sergeant Harding has been on QCS for four years.
“The highlight of the week has been the RAF totally swamping the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Where it’s usually red tunics it’s nice to see it totally blue. The guard that performed today was the same guard that performed at the Palace. The troops have worked exceptionally hard. It’s nothing I wouldn’t expect but it’s good to hear the compliments and I’m very proud of them.”
Flight Sergeant Andrew Harding
Also watching the parade was His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent who reviewed military aircraft and met aircrew that have travelled to the country’s largest airshow from all parts of the globe, including Japan and Pakistan.