Flanked by Princess Anne, King Charles spoke of the importance of the Life Guards and Blues & Royals during times of ‘global uncertainty’
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King Charles then addressed the gathered troops, admitting that the centuries-long bond between the Household Cavalry and the monarch has rarely been of such importance. ‘At such a time of global uncertainty, it is of crucial importance to preserve the attributes of excellence and achievement for which you are famous, and which are symbolised by these Standards,’ he said. ‘Emblazoned as they are with the battle honours earned by the blood, toil, tears and sweat of soldiers past, they are the embodied soul of the regiment.’
The King then paid tribute to the regiment for their famous mastery of pomp and circumstance, praising them as ‘renowned worldwide for the splendours of all those unique ceremonies at the heart of the nation.’
The King and his sister, two of the longest-serving royals, are known for their resolute sibling bond. While the Princess Royal has always been considered one of the Firm’s safest pair of hands – describing herself as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the monarchy – her support for her family has stepped up noticeably in the years since King Charles’s Coronation. When King Charles and the Princess of Wales both stepped back from public-facing duties to undergo cancer treatment, it was the Princess Royal who shouldered much of the increased workload on the rest of the royals.