Monarch on manoeuvres! Charles dons tank helmet and takes challenger for spin
Monarch driven in a Challenger 2 and an armoured Rolls-Royce that once carried his mother
The King has taken a ride in a British Army tank during his first visit to the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) since becoming Colonel-in-Chief.
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Charles arrived at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, on board a 1920 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured car as the centre celebrated its families’ day for the relatives of the regiment’s personnel.
The late Queen arrived on the same vehicle when she visited the museum in 1997 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai.
When asked later what he thought of the armoured car, the King joked: “Very slow.”
He took over the title of head of the regiment in 2023 following his mother’s death.
Charles was given a tour of the museum including the Tank Story Hall where staff explained the history and significance of tanks from the First World War up to the modern day.
He also met four of the RTR’s former Colonels-Commandant, who each served as the ceremonial head of the regiment.
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Outside, the King presented medals to soldiers on parade including wider service medals for Operation Cabrit in Estonia, long service, good conduct medals and commendations.
He also had a chance to meet family members of the regiment.
The King then inspected a Challenger 3 tank, the army’s newest battle tank, before he was shown the latest technological innovations being used by the regiment including 3D-printed equipment and search and attack drones.
Wearing a crew guard helmet, Charles, sitting in the commander seat, was then taken for a ride around the museum’s arena in a Challenger 2 tank.