Prince Charles Presents New Colours To The British Army's Parachute Regiment — Watch!
Prince Charles joined the British Army's Parachute Regiment, as they were presented with New Colours on Tuesday, July 13.
"I must say, I find it hard to believe that it has been 44 years since I became your Colonel in Chief and nearly 50 years since I made my first parachute drop — initially upside down with my legs in the rigging lines! — into Studland Bay, Dorset, where I was hauled out of the water by the Royal Marines," the 72-year-old began.
He continued, "Soon you will march off the square and will parade with your new Colours for at least the next 20 years. Whether I shall still be around to present you with new Colours when the time comes, remains to be seen, but I look forward to what the future brings you."
"There will be challenges and you will meet them as you always have done, with the same grit, determination and care for each other that were the hallmarks of your founding fathers in World War II," he concluded.
In honor of the big day, Charles' Twitter account shared throwback photos from his first parachute drop!
"Fifty years on since The Prince of Wales made his first parachute drop at the age of 23, His Royal Highness will today present New Colours to @TheParachuteReg at Merville Barracks in Colchester," the caption read. "Whilst training as a jet pilot during a four-month attachment with the @RoyalAirForce in 1971, His Royal Highness made his first parachute drop from an Andover into Studland Bay, Dorset."
"Formed during the height of WW2 in 1942, @TheParachuteReg are trained to conduct a range of missions, from prevention tasks to complex high intensity war fighting," a photo of Charles wearing a red cap and uniform read. "Today at Merville Barracks, The Prince joined The Paras on Parade, as they were presented with New Colours.
"The new Regimental Colours will replace those presented to the battalions in Aldershot in 1998," the note said. "Colours are used on @TheParachuteReg’s most important occasions, and bear the battle honours and symbols of the battalions."
Of course, people loved seeing Charles in action. One person wrote, "Wow wow! I love the uniform," while another added, "HRH Is a Man of Virtue and Action."
A third user added, "Wonderful photo, would have loved to seen that."
