Prince Charles visits RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire to meet with Squadron

Prince Charles paid a visit to Lincolnshire to watch the Graduation Ceremony of the Queen's Squadron at RAF College Cranwell on Thursday (16 July).

Arriving on the parade ground in front of the College, The Prince of Wales was there to mark the College's 100th year since opening.

The ceremony saw the cadets on parade, followed by a fly past over the College by Lincolnshire’s famous Red Arrows.

His Royal Highness, as Reviewing Officer, inspected the ranks and made a speech to the 152 graduating cadets.

Following the ceremony, The Prince met and spoke with cadets, before finally planting a tree, as is tradition during Royal visits and in recognition of the College's 100th year.

The parade had to be broken down into four Flights, configured and sequenced to meet social distancing guidelines.

His Royal Highness last visited RAF Cranwell in 2008 for The Duke of Cambridge's Wings Graduation Ceremony, and last attended a Graduation Ceremony as the Reviewing Officer in 2001.

RAF College Cranwell is a thriving RAF Station in the heart of Lincolnshire with a long and distinguished history dating back to its foundations as a Royal Navy Training Establishment in 1916.

It was the world's first Air Academy and today, it continues to select and train the next generation of officers and aircrew.

The Prince of Wales began his own career in the Armed Services in March 1971, when he started an attachment with the RAF at Cranwell.

In June 2012, The Prince of Wales was appointed to the rank of Marshal of the RAF, the highest rank in the British Royal Air Force.