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Royal Bermuda Regiment flies the flag at coronation

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The Royal Bermuda Regiment colour guard takes its place at the Victoria Monument in London during Saturday’s Coronation Parade. This is the first time the colours have left Bermuda.

Members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment said they felt that they had been “part of history” by parading for King Charles III at his coronation in London.

An RBR spokesman said: “Members proudly represented their battalion when they joined thousands of troops for King Charles III’s coronation in London.

“Days of intense preparation paid off for the ten-strong marching guard — led by Acting Captain Corrie Cross — that took part in a 1.4-mile procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

“In a first for the RBR, the group was among the British Army’s Order of Battle, next to representatives of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, in recognition of the Corps Warrant given by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment colour guard takes its place at the Victoria Monument in London during Saturday’s Coronation Parade. This is the first time the colours have left Bermuda.

“Another four of the Bermuda contingent formed a colour party stationed at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace for about an hour, during which time the procession passed.

“All 14, as well as the RBR’s commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Ben Beasley, were among the 4,000 service personnel who formed up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to salute and give three cheers to the King and Queen Camilla.”

The Royal Bermuda Regiment contingent, led by Lt Corrie Cross, takes part in Saturday’s Coronation Parade

Warrant Officer Class 1 Luis Pereira, the Regimental Sergeant Major, said: “I’m very proud of our soldiers.

“Obviously it was on a scale at which we’ve never worked before — a lot more than the 47 soldiers we normally take on parades back home.

“We were trained, we were well briefed, well prepared, so there was a sense of let’s get down to business and let’s perform in front of the world.

“Now we are a part of history.

“In years to come my grandchildren will be able to go on YouTube — or whatever video-sharing site there is in the future — and see their grandpa or even their great-grandpa who took part in the coronation of May 6, 2023.

“I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to participate in that.”

Leading up to the procession, the RBR’s marching guard members woke at 4.30am to get from their accommodation at Army Training Centre Pirbright to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for rehearsals that lasted, on average, ten hours a day.

Preparations also included practising at the RAF Odiham airbase in Hampshire as well as an overnight walk-through on London streets.

Corporal Nigel Lee, 31, said the group learnt new skills, including a change in formation while marching so that troops could make their way through the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Private Daniel Wideman, 43, of Paget, said the parade was “a great culmination to a lot of hard work”, which included standing in formation for about an hour in the rain before the procession began.

He said: “There were lots of people lining the streets, the vibe was very good, people were into it.”

The 14 soldiers and officers also included Captain Travis Stevens, Warrant Officer Class 2 Shaun Williams, Colour Sergeant Shanté Arnold, Colour Sergeant Sergio White, Corporal Ryan Hayling, Corporal Kallan Thomas, Lance Corporal Azar Morrissey, Lance Corporal Kirk Wilks and Lance Corporal Ashley Grant.

Their contribution to official coronation events means they will be eligible for a Coronation Medal, as will other serving members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment with at least five full years of service.

A group of RBR troops took part in a sunset parade at Warwick Camp on Saturday to mark the coronation.

Also present at the coronation were four Bermuda Scouts — Bradley Stewart, Melissa Weekes, Seth Malpas and Joshua Blee.

Bermuda Christian Chin-Gurret also watched the parade - his video is shown in the story.

The Royal Bermuda regiment,in white tunics, prepare to take part in Saturday’s coronation .The British Armed Forces conducted their largest ceremonial operation for 70 years and accompanied the King and Queen to the coronation service at Westminster Abbey. More than 7,000 soldiers, sailors and aviators from across Britain and the Commonwealth participated in ceremonial activities across processions, fly pasts and gun salutes marking the historic event.
Bradley Stewart, Seth Malpas, Melissa Weekes and Joshua Blee fly the flag outside Buckingham Palace
Members of the Household Division march past Buckingham Palace with the Bermuda flag first in line before the coronation. The other flags are of British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth nations.
The Bermuda flag on display on the coronation route as the King and Queen go past in their coach. (Photograph from the Bermuda London Office)
Members of the armed forces prepare to give the royal salute to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace after his coronation in London. (Photograph by Peter Dejong/Pool/AP)
The Governor, Rena Lalgie, with other governors and premiers of British Overseas Territories at the Small Island Developing States breakfast reception. (Photograph from Montserrat Twitter feed)

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Published May 09, 2023 at 7:52 am (Updated May 09, 2023 at 1:15 pm)

Royal Bermuda Regiment flies the flag at coronation

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