Princess Anne Joins Gurkha Signals For Double Celebration

Princess Anne has visited 30th Signal Regiment to commemorate the 71st anniversary of The Queen's Gurkha Signals.

During the visit to Warwickshire's Gamecock Barracks, the Princess Royal inspected personnel and presented operational medals with some soldiers having recently returning from deployment on Operation Shader.

Lieutenant Colonel Hannah Stoy, Commander, Queen's Gurkha Signals, said: "I think that's what makes today even more remarkable and special which is, this is us doing our normal business and to have such a high profile visitor and guest to take this lead has been amazing.

"We've worked through all the COVID force health protection measures that we've needed to have in place in order to make this possible and it just proves that we can continue some of what we do and do it well."

The ceremony was a double celebration, as it is also the centenary year of the Royal Corps of Signals, of which the Princess Royal is colonel-in-chief.

Princess Anne also addressed the Queen's Gurkha Signals birthday parade and was invited to cut a birthday cake.

The Gurkha Signals birthday parade itself included a cultural display and music performed by The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Lance Corporal Prasant Tanang, 30th Signal Regiment, said: "This is the first time I'm seeing English royalty. It's a proud moment and ever since we've heard that she's coming down here, we've all been really excited, we've all wanted to take a picture with her.

"It's just one for the books, we will always have this as a story to tell".

In August, on her 70th birthday, Princess Anne was promoted to Air Chief Marshal in the RAF and General in the Army. 

She also paid tribute to the Royal Corps of Signals to mark its 100th anniversary in June.