DRESSING THE PART TO MEET ROYAL LANCERS THE QUEEN MAKES AN EMOTIONAL VISIT IN NEW ROLE AS HEAD OF HER LATE FATHER'S REGIMENT

'I experienced the Lancers' support as a daughter of the regiment'

The Queen carried out one of her most personal engagements since the coronation last week: a visit to the Royal Lancers, the regiment to which her father belonged.

It was the first time Her Majesty had met the troops since she was appointed the regiment's Colonelin-Chief- a role previously held by Queen Elizabeth II - last June.

And there was a sense of familiarity as she was shown a tunic that had belonged to her father, Major Bruce Shand, who served with the 12th Lancers in the Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1940.

"For many, many years I have been hankering to have the role," said Camilla, 76. "I know that wherever [my father] is, he'd be so pleased I've got this role." She was also shown letters written by her father, who died in 2006 aged 89, and a photograph taken at a dinner held in October 1992 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

SPECIAL DRESS