Prince Charles‘s first attempt at skydiving almost fifty years ago definitely left a lasting impression.
The Prince of Wales visited the Merville Barracks in Colchester, England on Tuesday to present new Regimental Colors to the British Army’s Parachute Regiment. Colours are silks hand-embroidered with silver and gilt threads bearing the regiment’s insignia and used only on important occasions, and these new ones will replace those presented to the battalions in Aldershot in 1998. New Colours are blessed upon being presented to the regiment and have an almost mystical significance to infantry in the British Army. Since being appointed as Colonel in Chief of The Parachute Regiment in 1977, Charles regularly visits the Regiment and has taken a personal interest in supporting wounded soldiers and their families. While speaking with some of its members, the royal recalled his first parachute drop at age 23. “I must say, I find it hard to believe that it has been 44 years since I became your Colonel in Chief and nearly 50 years since I made my first parachute drop — initially upside down with my legs in the rigging lines! — into Studland Bay, Dorset, where I was hauled out of the water by the Royal Marines,” he said.
Later that day, his office at Clarence House also corroborated that story by sharing a handful of photos on its social media platforms of the future king preparing to be a jet pilot and participating in a Parachute Training Course in the 1970s. The royal office wrote in the captions, “Fifty years on since The Prince of Wales made his first parachute drop at the age of 23, His Royal Highness will today present New Colours to @TheParachuteReg at Merville Barracks in Colchester. Whilst training as a jet pilot during a four-month attachment with the @RoyalAirForce in 1971, His Royal Highness made his first parachute drop from an Andover into Studland Bay, Dorset. Upon his appointment as Colonel in Chief of @TheParachuteReg in 1977, The Prince requested to join a Parachute Training Course at RAF Brize Norton in 1978.”
Charles concluded his speech to the Parachute Regiment on Tuesday by saying, “Soon you will march off the square and will parade with your new Colours for at least the next twenty years. Whether I shall still be around to present you with new Colours when the time comes, remains to be seen, but I look forward to what the future brings you.” He added, “There will be challenges and you will meet them as you always have done, with the same grit, determination and care for each other that were the hallmarks of your founding fathers in World War II.”
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