King Charles met staff and families at the training base for the Army’s Royal Engineers in Wiltshire in his first military engagement since announcing his comeback to public duties amid his cancer treatment
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King Charles visits Royal School of Military Engineering in Surrey
King Charles said he was glad to be “out of my cage” as he embarked on his first military engagement since announcing a comeback to public duty – and just hours after Prince Harry’s UK appearance.
Charles, 75, met staff and families of the 3 Royal School of Military Engineering (3RSME), the training base for the Army’s Royal Engineers. He took on the role of Colonel-in-Chief in March last year which used to be held by Queen Elizabeth II.
The King received a red carpet treatment and a Quarter guard salute after stepping out of the State Bentley. Arriving at Gibraltar Barracks, in Minley, Wiltshire, he said: “Thank you so much, I do apologise by taking you by surprise, this opportunity appeared and allowed out of my cage and wanted to come and have a look.”
Lt Col Robert Grant said afterwards: “We only had, if you take into account the Bank Holiday, only seven or eight days to pull it all together but when you get that call is it possible to put a visit for His Majesty there is only one answer.” It comes as Harry said his father was too busy to meet him and his doctors are carefully calibrating his engagements. Inside, The King chatted with trainees, trainers and their families on a patio at the Officer’s Mess.
Speaking to heavily pregnant Sophie Mairs, 37, who is six weeks until her due date, the King joked: “Are you sure you should be here today?” Sophie, whose husband WO2 Barry Mairs, 38, is in the engineers, said afterwards: “I said I couldn’t miss it. It’s not every day the King comes to where your husband works.”
Outside Louis Bacon, six, handed the King a handmade drawing he had made. Louis said: “I wanted to make something special.” Six-year-old Lucas Stewart handed the King some honey made on the barracks. The King said: “Oh, just what I need.”
The outing comes as Charles held a Buckingham Palace garden party yesterday, just two miles from where Harry arrived solo at St Paul’s Cathedral for a special service to celebrate 10 years of the Invictus Games, with father and son failing to reunite during the Duke’s trip.
Harry had been hoping to see his father during his trip, but it has been revealed that won’t be happening. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said yesterday: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.
“The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.” A source previously told The Mirror : “Harry has kept in regular contact with his father on several occasions and made no secret of his desire to see him when he can.”
