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The Dragon Slayers of Hyde Park, Part III of III: The Memorial Service and Some Royal Connections
The Last Post is played at the unveiling of the Cavalry Memorial in 1924. It was then sited on the edge of Hyde Park at Stanhope Gate, a few hundred yards from its present location.
22 May 2024
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch concludes the final part of his trilogy on Cavalry Sunday 2024. (Part I is here and Part II is here.)
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (right) takes the salute at the march past. To his right are Lieutenant-General Sir William Rollo (President of the Old Comrades), General Sir Richard Shirreff (the Association’s Vice-Patron) and Major-General Tim Hyams (Colonel of the 2024 sponsor regiment, the Royal Dragoon Guards).The march past finished, Prince Edward lays the first wreath on behalf of the Old Comrades. Following this, regimental representatives lay their wreaths.Prince Edward and General Sir Richard Shirreff make their way to the memorial service conducted from the nearby Hyde Park Bandstand.Serving, veteran and reserve personnel are joined by official guests, family and friends in a service of remembrance.The service was conducted by the Chaplain-General, The Reverend Michael Parker.Hymns included “O Valiant Hearts.”Members of the Household Cavalry.Corporal Emrys Forlan Jones, a Welsh mountain pony and mascot of the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) attends the service. Corporal Jones’ rank is in recognition of his performance on parade at numerous events across the country. The Colours and Escorts of some of the participating regiments.More Colours and Escorts.
Umbrellas are not to be used in the event of rain.
The “Last Post” by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry was followed by a one minute silence and then a lament, “The Flowers of the Forest,” by a pipe major of the Royal Dragoon Guards.
Royal Connections
In the last ten years, the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association Parade Salute has been taken by six members of the Royal Family: The then Prince Charles, The Princess Royal, Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Field Marshal Baron Guthrie had the honour in 2017 and, because of the pandemic, there was no ceremony in 2020 and 2021. Looking further back, the salute was taken by The Queen in 1995, The Queen Mother in 1997 and Princess Margaret in 1986.
The King, then Prince of Wales, after taking the salute in 2019 – a picture used in this year’s printed programme.Both Prince William, now heir to the throne, and Prince Henry (Harry) joined the Blues and Royals as cornets (second lieutenants) in 2006. Harry alone attended the 2006 and 2008 Cavalry Memorial Parades but both Princes marched in 2007 (pictured).King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein of Jordan took the salute at the 2014 Parade in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Light Dragoons. Between 1980 and 1982 the then Crown Prince attended The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and then served as a troop commander in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars.
Finally
The wreath laid by Prince Edward on behalf of the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association.
Hear The Boat Sing 