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ADJUTANT GENERAL’S CORPS
Colonel, Colonel Frances Castle and 25th ANNIVERSARY
Colonel Command Support, Colonel Suzy
Holmes, knowing we would soon be in
the presence of The Queen.
Inside Buckingham Palace
The Day

As the deadline approached, we donned
our uniforms and made our way to the
Palace; the Union Flag was flying and
the Corps Sergeant Major gave us the
order “Eyes, left” as he saluted the flag.
The tourists loved it. Once inside we were
greeted by a member of staff who took
us to the Equerry to the Queen. We were
all amazed at the grandeur of his office,
while we waited excitedly to be called
forward.

The Brief The Audience good sense of humour, which was evident
as she reminisced fondly whilst looking
The Equerry came to collect us and took Our turn came and the big double doors through the album. She told us how her
us to an imposing vestibule with large opened and the Equerry presented us to driving instructor tried to get her to ride a
double doors, behind which sat the Her Majesty. Colonel Frances Castle was motor bike, but she struggled as she was
Queen, who was already busy meeting first to smartly walk into the room and too short and couldn’t reach the handle
other groups and delegations. We were introduce us all one by one. bars. The Queen spent 30 minutes of her
so close, we could hear her voice… The The Queen shook all our hands and valuable time with us before she thanked
Equerry put our nerves at ease, telling spoke warmly with each of us. When she us for our time and we left, paying our
us not to worry and reassuring us that spoke to me, we discussed how the role respects as we exited.
the Queen loves to meet members of her of females in the Army had changed
Armed Forces. There was also a certain over the years; this led nicely onto a Leaving the Palace
amount of protocol that we had to learn conversation about her time serving
before we would be allowed to move as a driver in the Women’s Auxiliary Unfortunately we were unable to take
forward and cross the threshold. Territorial Service during World War Two. photographs during our audience with
With the Women’s Royal Army Corps Her Majesty; however, we were able to
as an antecedent Corps, our Museum is take a few photographs during our visit,
lucky enough to have the Queen’s driving to commemorate the day. The honour
licence and a photograph album of her of being granted an audience with
military service, which we had with us The Queen is just one example of how
to show to Her Majesty. The Queen has a respected and strong our Corps is, as one
– even by the Royal Household.

The party at Buckingham Palace. Back row: Warrant Officer Class One Marc Thomson,
Warrant Officer Class One Carol Manifold, Colonel Suzy Holmes, Captain Richard Fowler.
Front row: Major Jim Fallon, Colonel Frances Castle ADC, Warrant Officer Class One Ben Culleton and
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mick Cotton MBE

Inside Buckingham Palace

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