Prince William and Princess Catherine visit Australian troops

Prince William and Princess Catherine were at Army Training Centre Pirbright today where they were introduced to Brigadier Grant Mason, the Head of Australian Defence Staff in London.

The royal couple then met with 28 members of the Australian Defence Force who are supporting with the ceremonies at the state funeral.

Where the Australian troops come from

The Prince and Princess also met with armed forces from New Zealand and Canada.

The Commonwealth troops are staying at Pirbright ahead of the funeral.

The same facility was used for defence members involved in The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral and Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

The link between the Queen and the Australian troops

The late monarch had the following involvement with the contingents:

Royal Australian Navy (RAN): The first campaign medal featuring Her Majesty The Queen’s effigy was issued in 1953 on the Korean War Medal. HMAS Vengeance escorted the Royal Yacht though Australian waters during the Queen’s first visit in 1954. In 1986, the Queen honoured the RAN’s 75th birthday by dedicating its national memorial in Canberra.

Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery: The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.

Royal Australian Army Ordinance Corps: The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. Her Majesty chose the design for a Sovereign’s Banner for the Corps as part of her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Royal Australian Engineers: The Queen assumed the role of Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. The Corps was granted a Sovereign’s Banner during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. One tradition was the Corps always presented the Queen with a dozen roses on her visits to Australia.

Royal Australian Infantry: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.

Royal Australian Air Force Reserve: Her Majesty The Queen was Air Commodore-in-Chief.