Queen visits capital for first Armed Forces Day

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 19:44

The Monarch was in Edinburgh where she met members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at Redford Barracks, one of more than 200 events that have been organised to honour the country's troops.

The Queen inspected a guard of honour and Challenger 2 tanks, and viewed a number of displays about military life.

As part of the proceedings the Queen, who is the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards' Colonel-in-Chief, was presented with a Wellingtonia tree, and she was warned that they can grow up to 500ft tall.

The Queen appeared in good spirits, patting the barrel of one of the tanks as well as laughing and joking with military personnel and their families, while being escorted by Lt Col Jonathan Baggart, the regiment's commanding officer.

Around 200 events were organised yesterday to honour troops past, present and future.

Last week, Buckingham Palace defended itself against claims that "senior members" of the Royal Family were not attending the centrepiece to the first Armed Forces Day.

Approximately 30,000 people turned out to the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent where the official party included Prime Minster Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Minister Kevan Jones.