The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to the nation's servicemen and women as they marked Armed Forces Day, sharing a glimpse into a recent royal visit.
A video, posted on their official Instagram account, captured the Princess of Wales alongside her eldest son, Prince George, during an engagement at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire two weeks prior. The pair were seen interacting with pilots and engineers, and closely examining aircraft belonging to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at the military air base.
This historic fleet, typically deployed for aerial displays, includes an Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, a Supermarine Spitfire, and a Hawker Hurricane. The Princess of Wales, who has held the position of Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby since August 2023, was also pictured engaging in conversation with RAF personnel throughout the visit.
A post on the Waleses’ social media account read: “Honouring Service and Sacrifice.
“Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive.
“A powerful reminder of the courage, skill and dedication of those who serve, past and present.
“Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve.”
Armed Forces Day is a special day to thank and celebrate the armed forces – extending to serving personnel, veterans and cadets – and to honour those who make up the military community.
Meanwhile on Saturday, The King told the Scottish Parliament to protect “Scotland’s extraordinary natural environment” as he and the Queen attended the opening of its new session.
Charles also encouraged debate to be “carried out with respect and courtesy” as he gave a speech to mark the beginning of Holyrood’s seventh session since it was established in 1999.
Following the ceremony, the King and Queen met local heroes nominated by MSPs for their “extraordinary contribution” to communities.
In his address, the King told Holyrood: “It gives me the greatest pleasure to join you once again for the opening of a new session of the Scottish Parliament.
“I make no apology for referring – again – to the incredible importance of protecting Scotland’s precious natural capital.
“It has long been my most fundamental belief that the natural world and human communities are not competing interests, but deeply interwoven ones; that there is an essential harmony between the health of our planet, the natural systems on which we depend and the health of the people that live upon the Earth.”
The King added: “In a global situation of rapid and seemingly accelerating challenge, there will, inevitably, be some aims which can be attained, and others, even with the best efforts, which will remain ambitions only.
“But while the outcome might not always be yours to deliver, the manner in which it is pursued lies always within your power.
“With that in mind, and in the knowledge that you are custodians of the democratic traditions long nurtured in these islands – traditions of which the honours of Scotland set before us are a powerful reminder – let us continue to show by example that debate can be carried out with respect and courtesy, that disagreement is possible while honouring one another’s dignity, and it is recognised – whatever views may exist as to the means – that all those engaged in public service are seeking the same end – the good of the society we serve.”
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