Grenadier Guards Soldier at the Main Operating Base, Lashkar Gah
A soldier of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards is pictured between operations at the main operating base at Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan.
In this historic Diamond Anniversary year for Her Majesty The Queen the Grenadier Guards deployed in Afghanistan have paused to pass on their personal birthday congratulations to their Colonel-in-Chief.
The 21st April marks the 70th anniversary of her being made Colonel of the Grenadier Guards when she was 16. This was her first military appointment in her long history with the Armed Forces, and the first time a woman had been made Colonel.
Early this week the Queen’s senior regiment of Foot Guards said thank you and congratulations to Her Majesty at a small parade at Forward Operating Base Price, in the Nahr E Saraj district of Helmand province.
The parade was conducted in the full heat of the Afghan sun and was a demonstration of the extremely close link between the monarch and her regiment. On her sixteen birthday she was appointed as the Colonel of the Regiment, it was both her first military appointment and the first time a woman had been selected for the honour. She held this title for 10 years before handing it over to her husband, Prince Philip, on her accession to the throne. She then became the Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief and has held this post for 60 years.
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimages.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45153937.jpg
For latest news visit: www.mod.uk
Follow us:
www.facebook.com/defenceimages
www.twitter.com/defenceimagesPhotographer: Cpl Paul Morrison RLC
Image 45153937.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
For latest news visit: www.mod.uk
Follow us: