Duke of Gloucester presents new colours to Royal Anglian Regiment

Hundreds of soldiers from the Regiment’s three battalions will be on parade at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford as they celebrate their Regiment’s Golden Jubilee.

The Royal Anglian Regiment, was formed on 1 September 1964. It was formed from the old County Regiments of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

Following tradition the Royal Anglian Regiment’s new colours will be presented by the Duke in his role as the Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief.

The last new colours were presented in 1995 at Duxford and since then both the Royal Anglian Regimental Museum and the Regimental Memorial have also been established there.

The practice of carrying Colours to act both as a rallying point for troops, and to mark the location of the Commander is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. It was formalised in the armies of medieval Europe, with standards being emblazoned with the Commander’s coat of arms.

These Golden Jubilee celebrations also include a parade with massed bands a Beating Retreat and an Act of Remembrance at the Regimental Memorial.

The Regiment is also marking the importance of the Jubilee by releasing their new Regimental history, ‘Aden to Afghanistan’ on the day.

The Regiment’s 1st Battalion is based in Bulford and the 2nd Battalion, based in Cottesmore, has recently returned from operations in Afghanistan. The 3rd Battalion – the Reserve Battalion which augments both regular battalions on operations – has its headquarters and a company in Bury St Edmunds and other companies in Norwich, Lincoln, Leicester and Chelmsford.

Guests at the parade and reception include Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants of several counties, Ministers, MPs and MEPs, civic dignitaries and those who support the Regimental Benevolent Fund in caring for our veterans.