King fires L118 Light Gun during first visit to Royal Regiment of Artillery as Captain General
The King has made his first visit to the Royal Regiment of Artillery since he became their Captain General.
He met personnel from the 21 regiments that make up the Royal Regiment and learnt about their heritage, their training and their work.
There was no shortage of gun firing to mark the King's visit, and he even fired one himself.
Sergeant Neil Mitchell assisted King Charles with the L118 Light Gun during the visit, which had been postponed earlier in the year.
"We got told he was coming, especially when I was told that I'm going to be detachment commander, and he [the King] was going to be firing my gun," Sgt Mitchell said. "What an honour. What an honour."
The sergeant was asked how the head of the Royal Family fared shooting the 8.8m-long gun, commonly used by the British Army's parachute and commando field artillery regiments.
"He did awesome. So, we gave him a little run-through, just to make sure he got it right," he said.
"And then when we went live, he nailed it."
Sgt Mitchell had never met the King before, and explained to BFBS Forces News that it was "quite a nervous moment".
The King was given an engraved 105mm cartridge to mark his appointment as Captain General.
He also met families of personnel based at Larkhill Garrison.
BFBS Forces News spoke to Harry, whose father is a Sergeant Major in the Royal Artillery.
"It was really good because it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.
Harry added that he would tell everyone at his school that he had been given a handshake from the King.
The Royal Artillery locate and strike the enemy. The regiment uses aerial surveillance, thermal imaging sights and radars, and then fires guns, mortars, precision rockets, and aircraft to destroy their adversary.
Join Our Newsletter
