A new photo of the King was released today to mark Armed Forces Day, as Queen Camilla thanked the military for how they ‘support and strengthen our nation’.
The portrait of Charles III was taken by photographer Hugo Burnand in Windsor Castle’s Grand Corridor in November last year and features him wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations.
A video from Camilla was also released by Buckingham Palace today, thanking veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and their families. In addition, she paid tribute to the military for ‘everything you do to protect this country of ours’.
And Camilla described the Armed Forces as a ‘source of inspiration, reassurance and pride’. Her message was filmed in the Clarence House Morning Room and produced by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), of which the she is patron.
It is notable that Camilla is taking on a greater role for Armed Forces Day this year as her husband continues his treatment for cancer following his diagnosis in February.
On Armed Forces Day last year, which was the King’s first as Commander-in-Chief, he wrote a letter paying tribute to the ‘selfless service and sacrifice’ of British troops.
In new photo today, Charles was wearing the collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with the Sovereign’s Greater George, as well as the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.
‘I am deeply honoured to join you all on Armed Forces Day.
‘Whether in this country or overseas, we celebrate the service of the men and women in our military and thank you all for everything you do to protect this country of ours.
‘We also remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of stability and peace around the world.
‘Earlier this month, my husband and I were in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
‘We were reminded of the incredible bravery of the Allied land, sea and air forces whose combined endeavours brought about the liberation of Western Europe and in whose debt we shall forever be.
‘Eight decades later, I know that that same spirit and those same qualities remain much in evidence throughout our Armed Forces, as you undertake your duties in the face of a multitude of challenges and dangers.
‘In so doing, you not only protect these Isles, but also defend liberties way beyond these shores. Your determination, unrelenting efforts and selfless loyalty to each other and to the United Kingdom are as enduring as our gratitude.
‘I also want to thank your families, who keep the home fires burning, whilst you are deployed overseas.
‘As the proud daughter of an Army officer, I know something of the impact military life has on your loved ones – you too are heroes.
‘In times of war and in times of peace, whether seen or unseen, our Armed Forces support and strengthen our nation. You are a source of inspiration, reassurance and pride – and I salute you all.’
He also had the Star of the Order of the Garter and the Star of the Order of the Thistle along with the Order of Merit, the Royal Victorian Chain, the Sovereign’s badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and a Medal Bar.
On the table, His Majesty’s Field Marshal cap could be seen along with a pair of white gloves and the Field Marshal baton.
As for Camilla, she was wearing her Royal Lancers brooch – the regiment in which her father Major Bruce Shand served and of which she is Colonel-in-Chief.
On the table beside the Queen is a photograph of the King taken in the garden at Clarence House, where he is wearing his Royal Navy uniform as Admiral of the Fleet.
A photo of Camilla’s parents Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt could also be seen, taken at St Paul’s Church in London’s Knightsbridge on their wedding day of January 2, 1946.
In her message to the military, the Queen said she was ‘deeply honoured to join you all on Armed Forces Day’.
She added: ‘Whether in this country or overseas, we celebrate the service of the men and women in our military and thank you all for everything you do to protect this country of ours.
‘We also remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of stability and peace around the world.’
Camilla then spoke about how she was in Normandy with the King on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
She said: ‘We were reminded of the incredible bravery of the Allied land, sea and air forces whose combined endeavours brought about the liberation of Western Europe and in whose debt we shall forever be.
Camilla added: ‘Eight decades later, I know that that same spirit and those same qualities remain much in evidence throughout our Armed Forces, as you undertake your duties in the face of a multitude of challenges and dangers.
‘In so doing, you not only protect these Isles, but also defend liberties way beyond these shores. Your determination, unrelenting efforts and selfless loyalty to each other and to the United Kingdom are as enduring as our gratitude.’
She also paid tribute to families who ‘keep the home fires burning’ while members of the military are deployed overseas.
Camilla continued: ‘As the proud daughter of an Army officer, I know something of the impact military life has on your loved ones – you too are heroes.
‘In times of war and in times of peace, whether seen or unseen, our Armed Forces support and strengthen our nation. You are a source of inspiration, reassurance and pride – and I salute you all.’
Camilla was referring to her father Major Shand, whose medals include the Military Cross and Bar.
The Military Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.
Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second Military Cross are issued with a silver bar ornamented by the crown.
These were awarded during the Second World War to Major Shand in 1940, for his actions in France; and in 1942, for his actions in North Africa.
Armed Forces Day is intended to be an annual celebration of personnel, service families, veterans and cadets in the Armed Forces community.
It also marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, which began on Monday, when the public show their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces.
As for the BFBS, this is a military charity and media organisation that supports the Armed Forces community around the world with morale-boosting TV, radio, films, digital media and news content.
Camilla became patron of the BFBS in 2021 when she was the Duchess of Cornwall.
It comes after Prince Harry urged bereaved children and young people to talk about their emotions in a new video about grief released earlier this week.
The clip came out in the lead-up to Armed Forces Day to highlight the ongoing needs of bereaved military children in the UK.
Harry, who was speaking in his role as a global ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which supports youngsters who have lost parents in the military, shared his own insight after losing his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at just 12.
‘It’s so easy as a kid to think or convince yourself… you convince yourself that the person you’ve lost wants you, or you need to be sad for as long as possible to prove to them that they are missed,’ he said.
‘But then there’s this realisation of, no, they must want me to be happy.’