Prince Harry's Ex-Comrades "Nervous" Ahead Of Ceremonial Role At Royal Wedding

Picture Credits: Crown Copyright

Prince Harry's former Army Air Corps comrades have spoken about their nerves and excitement at being given a ceremonial role at his wedding to Meghan Markle.

Some of the soldiers who trained and served with Harry in the UK and Afghanistan will have "pride of place" outside St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle as the royal newlyweds emerge.

More than 250 members of the armed forces will perform ceremonial duties at the wedding on May 19.

Twenty-three soldiers, one sergeant and one officer from Harry's former Army Air Corps regiment will line the street outside the chapel where the royal couple will say their vows.

The prince, known in the Army as Captain Wales, served with 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps as an Apache helicopter pilot in Helmand Province in late 2012.

Captain William Calder, who will be half company commander on the day and lead his soldiers in a royal salute, said he had some nerves ahead of the big day.

He said: "We will march through Windsor into the castle in time for the end of the wedding and as the couple and the royal family depart, we will be pride of place presenting them with a royal salute as they emerge from the chapel.

"It makes me a little bit nervous that we will be front and centre - the Queen and the senior members of the royal family will be stepping out the door right beside us and I'll probably be positioned about five metres from them.

"This is absolutely not our normal business, we are an Apache regiment, we fly Apaches for a living and we are very operationally focused most of the time.

"For us stepping into ceremonial duties is something a little bit outside of our remit but it's a nice, special treat and something different."

Capt Calder said his only meeting with the prince was a chance encounter at the cafe at Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, in Hampshire, where the royal asked him "Can I join you?"

"I knew he looked familiar, finally it dawned on me it was Prince Harry and of course he was utterly natural and charming and friendly and just like any other officer in the regiment," he said.

Another soldier who served with the prince during his time at Wattisham, Staff Sergeant North, said he too harbours a few nerves but he was confident the half company would be ready.

"It's a privilege," he said.

"Obviously there will be a few thousand people in attendance and millions of people worldwide watching the event but to be one of the roughly 250 military personnel taking part, to be able to see it will be amazing.

"There's always going a little bit of nerves and trepidation with anything you do to that level but by the time we get there, the training we conduct this week and next, we'll be looking smart and good to go."

Corporal Stuart Armstrong, 27, a communications specialist who worked with Harry "day-to-day" during Apache training, said it was an "honour" to be nominated and the soldiers had been busy preparing.

He said: "We've been at it all week this week, so between practising our drill, getting our uniforms ready so it's been pretty much non-stop all week."

He said the prince had been "just like another officer".