Page 93 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 91 Troopers from regiment plant 1,000 trees on royal estate
Troopers from a famous cavalry regiment with strong Leices- tershire connections have planted even firmer roots with the Queen, whose connection with them stretches back 70 years.
About a dozen troopers from The Royal Lancers, (Queen Eliza- beths’ Own) 12 Armoured Cavalry Regiment, planted 1,000 trees on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate, in Norfolk, earlier this month.
Her Majesty even lent a hand, trowelling soil on to the roots of trees planted in an area which has been named Lancer Spinney.
Three years ago, the 9th/12th Lancers, which recruits in Leices- tershire, amalgamated with the Queen’s Royal Lancers to be- come the Royal Lancers.
The tree planting took place at Sandringham, two days before the Queen returned to London after spending the Christmas season at the Norfolk Estate.
It was a thank you by the “Death or Glory” regiment for the presentation of their new guidon – a pennant traditionally used as the standard of a light cavalry regiment with a list of The Royal Lancers Battle Honours – by the Queen at Windsor Castle last April.
A regiment spokesman said: “Celebrating Her Majesty’s 70 years connection with the Lancers, the regiment planted 1,000 young trees on the Sandringham Estate on a plot now named Lancer Spinney.
“Around 12 soldiers took part in the tree planting in honour of Her Majesty’s connections with Royal Lancers regiments over 70 years.
The Queen is the Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief and her late mother held the same title with the former 9th/12th Royal Lanc- ers entitling the regiment to take the honorary suffix Queen Elizabeths’ Own.
The regimental spokesman said:“At the presentation of our new guidon in April, 2017 we became known as Queen Elizabeths’ Own.
“At the event, the regiment, pledged to plant 1,000 trees in a private space at Sandringham.
“We weren’t expecting to see the Queen on the day but she came out and said ‘hello’ shortly before returning to Buckingham Palace from the Christmas retreat at Sandringham. The guys planted the trees, a gift from the regiment in the course of a day. Her Majesty chose the area and shovelled a few trowel-loads to get us started.”
Troops from the Royal Lancers 12 Armoured Infantry Brigade’s Armoured Cavalry Regiment planted trees on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate