Armed Services
Armed Services
The Duchess supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on the majority of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.Her Royal Highness is Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy, Sponsor of HMS Astute and Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton.
In 2006 The Duchess of Cornwall became Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the regiments. The Battalion was previously named the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets with The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief.
The Duchess said she was “delighted and deeply honoured” to receive the appointment. Since her appointment Her Royal Highness has taken a very close interest in the battalion, which has suffered heavy losses during its tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The Duchess visits the regiment regularly at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. She meets servicemen and their families, presents service medals wherever possible, receives regular briefings from the Commanding Officer and writes letters to bereaved families and injured servicemen, often sending a gift to help speed their recovery.
In 2006 The Queen appointed The Duchess of Cornwall to the position of Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy.
In June 2007 The Duchess of Cornwall, as Sponsor, launched the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful submarine, HMS Astute, to the cheers of 10,000 people in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
In 2008 The Queen approved new Royal Air Force honorary appointments in recognition of the strong links between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton.
In addition to these official military appointments, The Duchess of Cornwall has met a wide variety of current and former military personnel in the UK and overseas.
With The Prince of Wales Her Royal Highness attends ceremonial military occasions including the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and more regular occasions such as the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph each year in November. In 2010 Their Royal Highness visited Fromelles to pay tribute to the last of the 250 First World War soldiers recovered from communal graves in France.
The Duchess also has personal connections to organisations related to the military through her father Major Bruce Shand, who was awarded two military crosses. Her Royal Highness is Patron and an Honorary Member of the Desert Rats Association. Major Bruce Shand, fought with the Desert Rats in the Second World War before he was captured during the Battle of El Alamein. The Duchess has also invited veterans, serving soldiers and officers of the 9th/12th Lancers to Clarence House for reception, with whom her father also served.
The Duchess is Patron of Sea Cadet Unit TS Astute which is related to her role as Sponsor of HMS Astute and is a Life Member of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, of which The Princess Royal is President.
In 2011, The Duchess became Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.
Military appointments and regiments in the UK
4th Battalion The Rifles
Royal Colonel (from 01/02/2006)
Website
Royal Naval Medical Services
Commodore-in-Chief (from 08/08/2006)
Website
HMS Astute
Sponsor (from 08/06/2007)
Website
TS Astute (Sea Cadet Unit linked to HMS Astute)
Patron (from 03/03/2008)
Royal Air Force Leeming
Honorary Air Commodore (from 02/10/2008)
Website
Royal Air Force Halton
Honorary Air Commodore (from 02/10/2008)
Website
Royal Naval Chaplaincy Services
Commodore-in-Chief (from 06/10/2008)
Website
Military appointments and regiments in Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
Colonel-in-Chief (from 2011)
Website