Duke of York Attends Chelsea Pensioner's Founders Day Parade

HRH The Duke of York has reviewed the Chelsea Pensioners at the 323rd annual Founder's Day Parade which commemorates King Charles II founding the army veterans' home the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 1681.

At the start of the Parade, witnessed by His Royal Highness, the Légion d'Honneur was presented by the French Ambassador, HE Slyvie Bermann, to a number of Chelsea Pensioners who served on D-Day and beyond for the liberation of France.

The Chelsea Pensioners stood in four companies for inspection by The Duke of York in the Royal Hospital's central courtyard.

Founder's Day, also known as Oak Apple Day, is always held as close as possible to 29th May - the birthday of Charles II and the date of his restoration as King in 1660.  The Oak reference commemorates the escape of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester (1651) when he hid in an oak tree to avoid capture by the Parliamentary forces, and is expressed through all members of the Parade wearing sprigs of oak leaves.