PHOTO GALLERY: Royal visit to review graduating officers at RAF Cranwell today (Thursday)

The Earl was reviewing the graduating of officers of the Initial Officer Training Course No 44, Specialist Entrant and Re-Entrant Course No 37, and No 57 Reserve Officer Initial Training Course.

After reviewing the graduating officers on parade His Royal Highness presented new Sovereign’s Colours to the Royal Air Force College and to the Central Flying School.

Before the review, delighted families, friends and guests were treated to a spectacular fly-past by a Typhoon from No. 12 Squadron at RAF Marham.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach who attended the parade said: “I am delighted to return to my college today for this unique occasion. It is always a great honour to have a new Sovereign’s Colour presented but to have two presented together is a very special event. I am sure that all of the graduating officers and other parade participants will remember this day for a long time to come.”

Commandant of the Central Flying School, Group Captain Fin Monahan said: “The Central Flying School is today honoured to receive a new Queen’s Colour during such a splendid ceremony. This is a great recognition of the importance of the work which we undertake in training aircrew from all three of the United Kingdom’s Armed Services and we are most grateful to His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex for presenting the Colour on such an auspicious occasion.”

The parade concluded with a Typhoon fly-past from 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby. Following on from the parade His Royal Highness met the graduating officers and their guest over lunch in the historic surroundings of College Hall Officers Mess.

Commandant of the Royal Air Force College, Air Commodore Chris Luck, summed up the day by saying: “We are honoured to have His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex as our Sovereign’s Parade Reviewing Officer. This day is all the more special as we receive our new Queen’s Colours for the College and the Central Flying School. This is a unique occasion of which all participants can be justifiably proud.”

In keeping with tradition, His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, was then invited to plant a lime tree beside the Queen’s Walk in a ceremony attended by service personnel and their families. A posy of flowers was presented to The Earl of Wessex by Harriet Luck, daughter of the Commandant.