GB News’ Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker has provided his exclusive insight into engagements undertaken by the Princess of Wales, the King and Queen and the Prince of Wales this week.
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PRINCESS OF WALES’S SPECIAL GIFT TO HER REGIMENT
On Monday, I covered the Princess of Wales attending the St Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barracks.
Her Royal Highness, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, missed the Parade last year because she was battling cancer.
Observing the Princess in real life, up close, is quite an experience; she instantly puts everybody at ease.
Her Irish-green coat and Celtic knot hair perfectly accompanied her warm and friendly persona, and she happily chatted with troops from all ranks and their families.
The Princess joked with one mother, whose daughter regularly plays against Princess Charlotte in school sports matches, that the warmer months will be much more comfortable for them to cheer on from the sidelines.
Guinness, of course, was on the menu for the young troops in the dining hall.
The roar from the junior ranks, giving three cheers for their Colonel, vibrated through the floor – I should have worn ear protectors!
To be honest, I am not sure the Princess has developed a taste for the Irish stout; she politely accepted a half pint, but took just one sip during the whole engagement.
However, she did put her own money behind the bar for the lads to continue the celebrations after she left – they were on their best behaviour until then, of course.
I heard the Princess say: “It’s the least I could do,” to one soldier, who thanked her for the gift.
I was standing directly behind the Princess on the parade ground when she stepped upon the Dias to receive the royal salute from hundreds of guardsmen.
As the Band of the Irish Guards struck up the National Anthem with such enthusiasm, the Princess appeared the most regal I had ever seen her.
Crowds crammed behind an iron-barred fence to watch their future Queen in action.
It was a truly special morning, as the Princess continues her gradual return to public duties in remission.
Princess of Wales attending a St Patrick’s Day event
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THE KING AND QUEEN ENJOY A RISQUÉ SEA SHANTY
I did not travel with the King and Queen to Northern Ireland due to the Prince of Wales’s visit to Estonia (keep reading to find out more), but I have to mention a great moment when Their Majesties were serenaded by music from The Causeway Shantymen.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were visiting Commercial Court in Belfast on Wednesday, ranked the most “attractive street” in Northern Ireland in 2022.
I never thought I would see Queen Camilla tapping away and the King smiling merrily to the lyrics: “Put him in the bed with the captain’s daughter”, but here we are.
On the whole, Their Majesties appeared to enjoy their three-day trip to Northern Ireland and were warmly received.
As with any royal trip to Northern Ireland, security was incredibly tight, but no major incidents were reported.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were visiting Commercial Court in Belfast
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PRINCE WILLIAM STANDS FIRM, CLOSE TO RUSSIA’S BORDER
I can just imagine Prince William fans squealing in delight around the world when the future King stepped out in military uniform on Friday – sporting a dashing beret and beard.
I was granted access on behalf of the Royal Rota to His Royal Highness on the parade ground at Tapa Army Base in Estonia, close to the Russian border, standing just metres away from William.
He spoke candidly with troops from the UK and France, as he was shown vehicles they use to train and operate in.
After cracking a few jokes about the “slow turning” and “heavy” war machines, he jumped in one himself.
We (the press) then gathered close to a pretend battlefield, so Prince William could trundle towards us in a magnificent Challenger 2 tank – designed to force the enemy to “break and retreat”.
At one point, I thought we would have to “break and retreat” into the thick mud, but he stopped just in time to climb out of the tank’s turret and join commanders observing a trench clearance exercise.
Gunfire rang in our ears, and the image of the future Head of Britain’s Armed Forces, shrouded in smoke so close to the Russian border, was chilling.
An important moment of the engagement for the Prince was spending time with young soldiers from the regiment, who would be away from their families for half the year.
He boosted their moral, playing pool and table football with some of them, before hearing how their mental health is supported on base.
The Prince paid close attention when he heard how the British Army is working to break the stigma around mental health.
Of course, the Prince only spent a morning at Tapa Army Camp.
His soldiers are spending six months there, standing firm as Europe’s first line of defence on NATO’s Eastern Flank.
