During my RAF career, I was honoured and privileged to be selected to serve on 'The Queen's Flight' at RAF Benson between 1992-95 (before the flight then lost its autonomous status, disbanded, and amalgated with 32Sqn at RAF Northolt).
I was extremely lucky to have a role that involved me regularly flying with members of the Royal Family.
My 'big' tour (if you like) was with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1994; 3 weeks touring India and Pakistan when he was carrying out his World Wildlife Fund role.
This is the end of tour 'crew photo' that was taken during a refuel stop at Muscat airport.
RIP, Sir.
What a marvelous picture.
RIP
Thanks mate. Prince Philip signed it as well. Probably my most treasured piece of 'memorabilia' from my 28 years service.
I'm not much of a monarchist. But this guy squeezed an awful lot into his lifetime, from putting his life on the line during world war two, to numerous wildlife initiatives, and a lifetime standing by the Queen. I guess you could say he had a great innings getting to 99, but for loved ones around any perosn, you always deep down hope for a couple more years, and I imagine the impact on the Queen in having someone such a part of her life suddenly vanishing forever must be devastating. While I never came into contact with anyone royal, I caught Joe Biden on Spanish TV on saturday and he offered a couple of words which I thing the D of E might well have appreciated as much as any of the eulogies we will be hearing this week. 'He was a great guy!' RIP
My great uncle was in the police, and once had the task of being bodyguard to prince Philip for the royal csrriage. Apparently, HRH went to the toilet and when he left, my great uncle announced "the dirty bugger didn't even wash his hands" and was greeted to a two fingered salute through the window. RIP
I'm not much of a monarchist. But this guy squeezed an awful lot into his lifetime, from putting his life on the line during world war two, to numerous wildlife initiatives, and a lifetime standing by the Queen. I guess you could say he had a great innings getting to 99, but for loved ones around any perosn, you always deep down hope for a couple more years, and I imagine the impact on the Queen in having someone such a part of her life suddenly vanishing forever must be devastating. While I never came into contact with anyone royal, I caught Joe Biden on Spanish TV on saturday and he offered a couple of words which I thing the D of E might well have appreciated as much as any of the eulogies we will be hearing this week. 'He was a great guy!' RIP
I'm not much of a monarchist. But this guy squeezed an awful lot into his lifetime, from putting his life on the line during world war two, to numerous wildlife initiatives, and a lifetime standing by the Queen. I guess you could say he had a great innings getting to 99, but for loved ones around any perosn, you always deep down hope for a couple more years, and I imagine the impact on the Queen in having someone such a part of her life suddenly vanishing forever must be devastating. While I never came into contact with anyone royal, I caught Joe Biden on Spanish TV on saturday and he offered a couple of words which I thing the D of E might well have appreciated as much as any of the eulogies we will be hearing this week. 'He was a great guy!' RIP
Surely they could have made arrangements for someone to sit with the Queen rather than leave her on her own?
they are, correctly, observing the rules as applies to all. No-one else in attendance is within the Queen's bubble, and therefore she is required to sit alone.
Whether those rules are sensible in whatever setting is questionable (she could sit next to someone at the pub) but they are the rules.
Surely they could have made arrangements for someone to sit with the Queen rather than leave her on her own?
they are, correctly, observing the rules as applies to all. No-one else in attendance is within the Queen's bubble, and therefore she is required to sit alone.
Whether those rules are sensible in whatever setting is questionable (she could sit next to someone at the pub) but they are the rules.
Surely they could have made arrangements for someone to sit with the Queen rather than leave her on her own?
they are, correctly, observing the rules as applies to all. No-one else in attendance is within the Queen's bubble, and therefore she is required to sit alone.
Whether those rules are sensible in whatever setting is questionable (she could sit next to someone at the pub) but they are the rules.
Fair enough. Would have thought Andrew could have been in her bubble though, no one’s touched him with a barge pole for months.
apart from the bloke who's doing it i am the only person i know who likes the sound of bagpipes.
I quite like them. They have a unique and interesting sound.
I think it’s just they can seem a bit relentless...
Yeah relentless but in a way it reminds me watching a documentary on the first world war. 'Devils in skirts' was used by the Germans when faced with the highlanders. They mentioned the bagpipes as their siren call, which freaked the German troops out. Relentless is not strong enough word to describe what those chaps did in battle.
Something about people that have spent so long together being torn apart always gets me.
A woman married to a man for 73 years has lost her husband, that could be Elizabeth and Phillip from Dagenham and it would still bring a tear to my eye.
Something about people that have spent so long together being torn apart always gets me.
A woman married to a man for 73 years has lost her husband, that could be Elizabeth and Phillip from Dagenham and it would still bring a tear to my eye.
Family is family, doesn’t matter if you’re the richest people in the land or the poorest. Value of family is always the same. I’m not watching as I find it strange, but the pics going round social media are sad.
Something about people that have spent so long together being torn apart always gets me.
A woman married to a man for 73 years has lost her husband, that could be Elizabeth and Phillip from Dagenham and it would still bring a tear to my eye.
RIP.
This. I find all funerals upsetting.
depends on who's died i would of thought. Hitlers funeral...
na, its something that a lot of us have experienced and any decent person would feel empathy.
Thai malaysia addick thank you for putting in that old score card. Thought that was absolutely brilliant, well done. Did those matches used to be played at Arundel Castle?
The sight of all the military personnel standing on the castle lawn with heads bowed, whilst the bands were playing music chosen by Prince Philip, was incredibly moving and brought tears to my eyes.
apart from the bloke who's doing it i am the only person i know who likes the sound of bagpipes.
More from a nostalgia point of view (they remind me of my Grandad) than a musical point of view. Played well they're OK, but if you have poor bag control and/or fingering they're prone to make that awful squealing noise, and the sound of them tuning up is painful especially if you have the misfortune to be in the same room.
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Thanks mate. Prince Philip signed it as well. Probably my most treasured piece of 'memorabilia' from my 28 years service.
'He was a great guy!'
RIP
Whether those rules are sensible in whatever setting is questionable (she could sit next to someone at the pub) but they are the rules.
RIP Duke.
A woman married to a man for 73 years has lost her husband, that could be Elizabeth and Phillip from Dagenham and it would still bring a tear to my eye.
RIP.
na, its something that a lot of us have experienced and any decent person would feel empathy.
Thought that was absolutely brilliant, well done. Did those matches
used to be played at Arundel Castle?