Queen Camilla makes solo appearance after accepting new military role

Queen Camilla has met with members of The Royal Lancers regiment and veterans as part of a new role, and one that his close to her heart.

Camilla, 76, was named Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers in June. This position was previously held by the late Queen Elizabeth.

Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand, served in the 12th Lancers and won a Military Cross for gallantry during battle.

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The royal attended the barracks in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. During the visit Camilla viewed the Lancers tunic worn by her father during his time with the regiment.

The queen also viewed a letter her dad had written to the father of one of his troop sergeants who had earned a medal for bravery.

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Queen Camilla signed the visitors book and was also presented with a silver model of a lancer on a horse. She reportedly told the group she would "treasure it."

"I know wherever my father is, he'd be so pleased I've got this role," The Mirror reports the queen as saying.

Her father died in 2006.

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Camilla dressed for the occasion, wearing a military-inspired navy and red outfit featuring a navy coat dress with gold buttons, a bright red mandarin collar and chain mail on the shoulders.

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She completed the look with a red beret with regimental brooch attached to it.

A Royal Lancers brooch previously belonging to Queen Elizabeth was pinned to her coat.

The Royal Lancers regiment formed in 2015 when the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen's Royal Lancers were amalgamated.

Queen Camilla arrived at the barracks and was greeted by Lord Lieutenant Jo Roper and Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel Richard Charrington.

The regiment performed a salute to the queen before she inspected the regiment.

The queen then delivered a speech to those gathered.

She said: "The Lancers have always struck me for their family spirit, whose comfort and support I experienced as a daughter of the Regiment, and I'm delighted to see so many families and members of the Old Comrades Association here today. Particularly now, as so many of your loved ones look to deploy overseas."

Following her speech the queen awarded five medals and toured the officer' mess.

Later, Queen Camilla meet with now-retired Major Phil Watson who wrote Their Greatest Hour, a record of the 12th Lancers' role in the 1940 Battle of Dunkirk.

She wrote the forward to Their Greatest Hour as a tribute to her father.

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