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RAF joins Royalty at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Personnel on horseback.

Personnel from the Royal Air Force have joined Her Majesty the Queen and colleagues from the Royal Navy and British Army to celebrate at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show.

As well as providing a series of stunning displays of equestrian sportsmanship, for this special Platinum Jubilee themed event, hundreds of personnel from all three armed services came together to provide a spectacular programme of music for the evening Pageant: 'A Gallop Through History.'

The Queen in a Royal car.

Opening the show every evening was a Tri-Service Guard of Honour, which included the Queen’s Colour Squadron, accompanied by the Household Cavalry Mounted Band and Royal Marine Band and Massed Pipes and Drums drawn from 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Scots Dragoon Guards, the RAF Pipes and Drums and the Combined Band of the University Officer Training Corps.  An orchestra made up of RAF musicians alongside members of the Royal Marine Band, Countess of Wessex String Orchestra and a drummer from the British Army Colchester Band providing musical accompaniment throughout the performance.

Personnel during service.

Corporal Eastburn-Pentreath, is a violinist in the RAF Salon Orchestra and formed part of the tri-service & civilian orchestra on stage for the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

"Being part of the tri-service orchestra supporting the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations was fantastic. It was an immense privilege to perform in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen on Sunday night and to accompany such a star-studded cast and talented acts from all over the world! It is extremely humbling to know that being part of this celebration really is a once in a lifetime experience."

Corporal Eastburn-Pentreath
RAF Salon Orchestra Violinist

Katherine Tate performs by Orchestra.
Tri-Service Orchestra perform with Katherine Jenkins.

Staged every evening for 90 minutes in the Castle Arena, the Pageant celebrated Her Majesty The Queen’s 70 years as Monarch with a rollicking ride through history from the time of Her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I, to the present day.  It featured more than 500 horses and 1,300 performers, including stars of screen and stage.

Personnel during service.

"The Queen’s Colour Squadron were immensely proud to be able to support the Royal Windsor Horse Show, marking the start of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Whilst each of the 5 performances were incredible in their own right, there was not a single person in the Royal Guard of Honour who did not stand that bit taller and prouder when Her Majesty entered the show on the final night to a standing ovation. Every one of us recognises how privileged we were to represent the Royal Air Force in front of the Royal Family and Great British public at such a unique occasion and it will be something we never forget."

Squadron Leader Dunne
Officer Commanding The Queen’s Colour Squadron

Orchestra on stage during service.

"The Royal Windsor Horse Show was an excellent event for the RAF Pipes and Drums to be a part of. To perform for Her Majesty the Queen for the start of her Platinum Jubilee Celebrations was a huge honour and a great experience, especially for the new members of the band. We look forward to performing for her again during the Jubilee Pageant on 5th June, when we will be leading the Commonwealth contingents through London."

Pipe Major Hughes
RAF Pipes and Drums

Personnel during service.

The pageant culminated on Sunday led by an all-star cast including Dame Helen Mirren, Damien Lewis, Omid Djalili and Tom Cruise and was broadcast live on TV.

Personnel during service.