![\"Gabrielle](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cropped-Head-shot.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNov 28 2025<\/p>\n
Queen Camilla has issued a heartfelt speech regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.<\/a><\/p>\n She stepped out for a rare joint outing with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, yesterday (November 27) to the Biennial RIFLES Awards Dinner, which was held at the City of London Guildhall.<\/p>\n The event took place in celebration of excellence across The Rifles regiment, which the queen serves as Colonel-in Chief.<\/p>\n She took over the role from the late Prince Philip in July 2020. She is also Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Ranger Regiment and first Patron of The Rifleman\u2019s Association, which supports serving personnel, veterans and their families.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Duchess Sophie has held the role of\u00a0Royal Colonel of the 5th Battalion The Rifles since 2007.<\/p>\n Camilla was greeted with a rousing bugle fanfare as she arrived, looking striking in a floor-length blood red velvet gown. She accessorised the look with a silver gemstone necklace and ruby earrings to compliment her dress.<\/p>\n Sophie also matched the queen in velvet, her dress midnight blue. Both royal ladies also paid tribute to the regiment with signature Silver Bugle Horn brooches, the cap badge of The Rifles.<\/p>\n The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were likewise in attendance. Together, the royals met with Riflemen, Rangers, veterans and invited guests during a reception before the awards dinner.<\/p>\n The gathering, which took place in the historic Great Hall, brought together personnel and veterans from all seven battalions.<\/p>\n Ahead of a lavish dinner, Queen Camilla gave a speech. The 78-year-old took the opportunity to express her hope for ending the conflict in Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Royal Highnesses, Riflemen, ladies and gentleman,\u201d she opened the address. \u201cIt is wonderful to be surrounded once more by a sea of green.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly recently we marked the 80th anniversaries of both victory in Europe and victory over Japan<\/a>,\u201d she continued. \u201cDuring these moments of commemoration, I was fortunate enough to speak privately with so many of our surviving veterans who voiced a clear and unanimous plea: the path to peace must be pursued with the same vigour and determination that our Forces prepare for combat.\u201d<\/p>\n The path to peace must be pursued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt is only fitting, then, to rewind the clock 170 years, when The Rifles\u2019 antecedents stood alongside our European allies in modern-day Ukraine,\u201d she added powerfully. \u201cBy November 1855, our regiment had distinguished itself at the Alma, Inkerman and Sevastopol and were anticipating the end of a bloody Crimean campaign. So let us hope, as our antecedents did then, that our resolve to stand up to tyranny in this same region can again find a resolution to another devastating and brutal war<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Duchess](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/coverimages54890650-683x1024.jpg\")
Duchess Sophie joined Queen Camilla at the event (Credit: Cover Images)
\nQueen Camilla joins forces with Duchess Sophie<\/p>\n![\"Queen](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RI-Standard-image-1-3-1024x582.png\")
Queen Camilla paid tribute to Ukraine in a powerful speech (Credit: YouTube)
\nQueen makes Ukraine plea<\/p>\n\n