The Prince of Wales, in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Queen's Own Yeomanry, presented a new 'Guidon' to the Regiment in ceremony at Bramham Park House, Wetherby, alongside some 130 members of the unit, both serving & retired, 22 September 2018.
What is a 'Guidon'?
The Guidon, which is awarded by The Queen, is a flag of crimson silk damask embroidered & fringed with gold with the Regimental Battle Honours emblazoned upon it & the Regimental emblem embroidered in the centre.
The swallow-tailed Guidons evolved from banners carried by Knights of the Middle Ages.
His Royal Highness gave a short speech commending the unit’s “exceptional contribution”.
He said: "The Guidon that has been marched off parade today represents over two centuries of volunteer service to the crown at home & abroad - service which has continued to this day. "I acknowledge with immense gratitude & undying admiration the truly exceptional contribution that your officers, soldiers & families provide so selflessly to the defence of the realm.
"You set us an outstanding example that I, for one, do not take for granted."
The Prince wore his ceremonial frock coat & sword, & posed for a regimental photograph outside the 18th-century country house before a reception involving around 200 troops & their family & friends.
Warrant Officer Second Class David William, who marched the old standard off & the new one on, said it was an "honour". He added: "It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the prince, he joked about the fact that the weather has improved."
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry is a light cavalry regiment in the Army Reserve, of the British army. As a light armoured reconnaissance unit, its role involves operating in front of other friendly forces to gather intelligence on the enemy & the environment.
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry Reservists are highly trained cavalry soldiers who operate well ahead of other forces, monitoring enemy troops & feeding intelligence back to commanders.
The tools of their trade include high-tech weaponry, thermal imaging equipment, & the latest digital battlefield communications systems. They get around using light armoured vehicles, but they’re equally at home on foot.
As a Reservist regiment, The Queen’s Own Yeomanry trains & serves alongside its Regular Army counterparts, The Light Dragoons.
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry was created on 1 April 1971, when five yeomanry units from across the Midlands, the North of England & South West Scotland came together to form the 2nd Armoured Car Regiment. Soldiers from the regiment have served in Afghanistan & Iraq.
The Prince of Wales, in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Queen's Own Yeomanry, presented a new 'Guidon' to the Regiment in an hour-long ceremony in the grounds of Alnwick Castle. 22 September 2007 (pictured below). This was the first Guidon the QOY had received since its formation.
The whole Regiment wears a variation of the running fox cap badge of the old East Riding Yeomanry. However, each of the Squadrons wears its own collar badges & buttons.
Further interest;
British Army Website: https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-armoured-corps/queens-own-yeomanry/
Facebook page: https://en-gb.facebook.com/QOY/
Twitter page: https://twitter.com/theqoy1?lang=en