Victoria and George Cross holders meet King and Queen at Windsor Castle
Holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross have met the King, Queen and Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.
In St George's Hall, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William were flanked by some of the bravest men you could ever hope to meet.
Australian Corporal Mark Donaldson VC was awarded the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry.
This was for, among other things, rescuing an injured Afghan interpreter while under heavy fire.
"When I think about the medal, when I think about the awards," he said, "Very, very important and a long history and institution that comes with that.
"But at the end of the day, it was about the team, and regardless of who that was on that team, we were all there together, we were all fighting together, and that's what mattered the most."
Chris Finney, chairman of the VC and GC association, holds the George Cross himself and said it was "so important that the gathering takes place".
"There are so few of us nowadays, which could be viewed as a positive thing, but just to keep the spirit of the awards alive and in the public consciousness, and also for us, a lot of shared experiences."
Another of those who attended the meeting was Kim Hughes, who was awarded the George Cross in 2010 and left the Army as a WO1.
"When we come together, we're a family, we're friends," he said.
"We catch up on what’s gone on in people’s lives and then to be a part of something like this is absolutely phenomenal."
The three royals spent more than an hour talking to VC and GC holders in the Grand Reception Room, as well as the families of recipients who were awarded posthumously.
The Prince of Wales said he was "in awe" of a triple-amputee veteran who said he "holds no bitterness" about being injured in service.
Major Norton was awarded the George Cross in 2006 after checking for an improvised explosive device (IED) near Baghdad, in Iraq, the year before, leading to the loss of his left leg, severe injuries to his right leg, abdomen, back and left arm.
"I'm spread across three countries," the 62-year-old joked to Charles, who became patron of the VC and GC Association when he became King.
Maj Norton told William at the Windsor Castle reception that he was thrilled that the Prince of Wales is now president of the association.
Prince William said he was in awe of Major Norton, who later told reporters of his injuries: "I hold no bitterness, it is what it is.
"My experience of it was, if I'm absolutely honest, if we were doing in 2005 what we were doing in 2010, I would be walking now," he said.
Major Norton said he believes advances in technology and healthcare would have made a difference to his outcome.
Other award-holders at the reception included Colour Sergeant Johnson Beharry, 45, who received the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honour, for twice saving colleagues while under fire in Iraq.
Keith Payne, who fought in Vietnam and Korea, came over from Australia for the reception.
The 91-year-old was awarded the Victoria Cross after he led Australian troops from danger in Vietnam after a massive enemy attack.
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