King meets RTR soldiers and takes a ride in a Challenger on his first visit as Colonel-in-Chief

The King has visited the Royal Tank Regiment as guest of honour for a Families Day event at Bovington, riding in a Challenger 2 and taking a close look at the tank that'll be replacing it.

The trip to the Tank Museum marked the monarch's first visit to the regiment since he became its Colonel-in-Chief in 2023.

He arrived in a 1920 Pattern Rolls-Royce Armoured Car, the oldest vehicle in the museum's working fleet, which carried his mother the late Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the regiment in 1997.

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Meeting the men - and women - in black

Inside the museum’s Tank Story Hall, the King heard from museum staff about their work to explain the history and significance of tanks from the First World War until the modern day.

He also met four of the RTR's former Colonels-Commandant, who served as the ceremonial heads of the regiment.

The King presented Wider Service Medals for those who served in Estonia on Op Cabrit and also Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to soldiers on parade.

He then met their families and friends gathered to celebrate the regiment's annual Families Day.

Taking a look at the king of the battlefield

The King took a look at displays highlighting current innovations in the regiment's armoured operations, including a next-generation Challenger 3 main battle tank and 3D-printed equipment.

At the museum's Conservation Centre, the King heard from curatorial team about the collection and wider outreach work, including the museum's success growing its online audience of millions across social media.

Finally, he met the crew of the Challenger 2 and heard more about the vehicle and their work.