Royals

King and Queen meet military mascots during visit to Brecon Barracks

Watch: King and Queen visit Brecon Barracks.

Reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery greeted the King and Queen on their first visit to Wales since the coronation in May.

Their visit to Brecon was marked by a 21-gun salute by the reservists â€“ the first of its kind to happen in Brecon.

The Royal couple went on to visit Brecon Barracks, home to 160 Brigade, the regional Army command for Wales.

His Majesty was greeted by brigade commander Brigadier Nick Thomas as the Royal Welsh Band marched onto the square. 

The King also met the Honour Guard, 160 Brigade headquarters staff, Gurkha soldiers, and individuals from the Infantry Battle School.

The brigade's mantra is: 'Connecting the Army to Wales and understanding Wales for the Army, with a focus on the lived experience of service personnel and their families'.

There has been a Gurkha presence in Brecon since 1974, with the Infantry Battle School's contingent of Gurkha soldiers making up the Training Support Division.

This division is made up of around 100 personnel who post in from across the Brigade of Gurkhas for up to two years.

King meeting Welsh military mascot the Royal Welsh goat, Lance Corporal Shenkin IV at Brecon Barracks
King meeting Welsh military mascot the Royal Welsh goat, Lance Corporal Shenkin IV at Brecon Barracks

King Charles and Queen Camilla also met Welsh military mascots, including the Royal Welsh goat, Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, and 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards' Welsh mountain pony, Lance Corporal Emrys Forlan Jones.

British Army units adopting animals as military mascots is a practice dating back to the 18th Century when the Royal Welsh recruited a goat.

The tradition is believed to have started after a wild goat strayed onto the battlefield during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, leading the Royal Welsh Fusiliers' colour party from the field.

The regiment has also chosen a Welsh pony to keep in touch with their Welsh heritage and the tradition of the Welsh Cavalry charging into battle on horseback.

Cheering schoolchildren earlier waved Union flags as they welcomed the King and Queen.

The Royal couple started their visit at Brecon Cathedral, where students from Priory Church in Wales Primary School gathered to greet them on Thursday morning.

The couple met dignitaries including First Minister Mark Drakeford outside the cathedral, which was built in the 12th century and is set in the only walled cathedral close in Wales.

They were seated for a performance of Benedictus from Rod Paton's Ascension Jazzmas, performed by Erin Thomas, 18, and the Brecon Choir Festival and Dr Paul Shackerley, Dean of Brecon, led prayers including a blessing for the Royal Family.

Following the service, the King and Queen walked down the side of the church and met members of the congregation.

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