Prince William to wear famous British army redcoat
Apr 28th
Robin Millard April 29, 2011 – 9:14AM GM
Prince William has made a surprise choice of a military uniform for his wedding on Friday, opting for the world-famous scarlet colours of the British army.
As a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, most had predicted William would wear his plain, blue RAF flight lieutenant’s uniform for his marriage to Kate Middleton at London’s Westminster Abbey.
However, the prince is also the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards infantry regiment and has chosen to wear their red tunic, his highest-ranking uniform.
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His choice will likely be seen as a nod of recognition to those Irish Guards serving in Afghanistan.
The regiment deployed in October 2010 for a six-month tour of duty and has lost three soldiers on the current operation.
Their scarlet uniforms will be familiar to anyone who has seen the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
However, the prince will not wear a bearskin hat — instead he will wear a peaked cap known as a forage cap. He will also be without a sword.
“It’s a personal preference what he chooses to wear but the main reason is it’s his senior honorary appointment in the army,” a spokesman for his St James’s Palace household told AFP.
“It is the highest-ranking uniform that he has at his disposal.”
Queen Elizabeth II made her grandson the colonel of the Irish Guards in February. It is William’s only honorary appointment in the army.
Though not as feverishly anticipated as Middleton’s dress, the prince’s uniform is nonetheless a surprise.
Some bookmakers had stopped taking bets on William wearing his RAF colours, with the odds reaching 20-1 on.
The last British royal wedding to feature a groom marrying in red was that of William’s aunt Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey in 1973.
William’s Irish Guards uniform will be topped off with a gold and crimson sash and gold sword slings.
The insignia on the forage cap features the regiment’s Latin motto “Quis Separabit? (Who shall separate us?)”.
William will also wear his Garter sash and star, RAF “wings”, and the Golden Jubilee medal.
Based at the Victoria Barracks in Windsor, west of London, the Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland, as well as cities with large Irish populations such as Liverpool, London and Manchester.
Prince Harry, William’s younger brother and best man, is a newly promoted captain in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals regiment and will wear the uniform of his new rank.
Their father Prince Charles will wear his Royal Navy admiral’s uniform, complete with a sword.
© 2011 AFP
This story is sourced direct from an overseas news agency as an additional service to readers. Spelling follows North American usage, along with foreign currency and measurement units.
City of Boulder News Briefs April 28 2011
Apr 28th
Boulder Senior Services Summer 2011 Magazine now available
The Boulder Senior Services Summer 2011 Magazine has been mailed to City of Boulder seniors and can also be picked up at the East Boulder Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, the West Boulder Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Ave. or viewed online at: www.boulderseniorservices.com.
Registration for summer programs begins on Tuesday, May 17, for Encore members and Thursday, May 19, for all others. Walk-in and phone registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 20.
The minimum age for participation in events and classes has been reduced to 55. However, seniors seeking assistance from Senior Resources must be at least 60 for a consultation.
The Senior Resources staff offers individualized consultation and resource referrals. Call to learn about and understand the resources available to adults age 60 and over, as well as their families. Staff can help you clarify needs, understand what your options are, learn how to maneuver the application processes, balance caregiving and develop a plan of action.
New offerings in the magazine include:
- “The Civil War: Causes and Effects,” 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 27; free at the East Boulder Senior Center;
- “Cuba Day,” noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, $7 at the East Boulder Senior Center;
- DIA Tour, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, $25 to $32.
Both the East and West Senior Centers have a number of rooms of different sizes that are available for rent for your party or meeting. For room rentals at either center, call David Coile at 303-441-3146. Or visit our web site: www.boulderseniorservices.com, click on “facilities” and choose from the drop down menu.
Boulder Senior Services is a division of the Department of Housing and Human Services. For further information please call 303-441-3148 or 303-441-4150.
Police host bike training
On Wednesday, April 27, the Boulder Police Department hosted a joint-agency training involving mountain bikes. Uniformed officers from six agencies (Boulder Police Department, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, University of Colorado-Boulder Police, City of Lafayette Police, and City of Longmont Police) participated in a comprehensive one-day refresher on basic skills, field maintenance, fundamental bike handling skills, vehicular cycling and patrol tactics.
The participants trained throughout the streets and parks in Boulder. Instructors certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) conducted the training.
NEWS
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Contact:
Sarah Huntley, Media Relations, 303-441-3155
