00:00Rifleman, following my appointment as your Colonel-in-Chief, I wanted to take the opportunity, via the best means possible
00:10in this current and challenging climate, to express how honoured I am to take up this prestigious role.
00:19I must begin by paying tribute to my predecessor, my dear father-in-law, His Royal Highness, the Duke of
00:26Edinburgh, who, having been Colonel-in-Chief of the successive regiments that have made up the Rifles since 1953, has
00:35set the bar incredibly high.
00:39As a National Regiment, you have a respected and rich history, of which you should all be proud. You can
00:48uniquely boast of holding 913 battle honours and 117 Victoria Crosses.
00:57It was particularly poignant for me to have assumed this role on the regimental day of Salamanca, a battle in
01:06which antecedent regiments from all four of the forming regiments 14, 18, 100 and 12.
01:14There is much that can be learnt from this shared history in driving forward as the regiment you are today,
01:21swift and bold.
01:24For many years, I have taken a great and personal interest in the Rifles and decedent regiments.
01:31Towards the end of the Second World War, my father, an officer with the 12 Lancers, was captured and held
01:38as a prisoner of war in Germany.
01:41He managed to escape, spending two days and nights hiding in the woods with Edward Rose, a lieutenant from the
01:49Green Jackets, whom I was lucky enough to meet three years ago in Canada.
01:54My father would only refer to his wartime service on rare and precious occasions, but I well remember the warmth
02:02of his admiration for the rifle regiments and their discipline, humour and courage.
02:09He would be delighted to know of my connection today to this very special regiment.
02:16I am taking the liberty of speaking to you of my father because I know your regiment is an extended
02:22family of regular and reserve battalions, cadets, associations and communities.
02:30I am fortunate enough to have been part of that family for 13 years as Royal Colonel of the 4th
02:37Battalion.
02:38It has been a privilege to share in four rifles, successes and sacrifices, and I now look forward to visiting
02:47each rifles battalion in the coming months.
02:52I had the great pleasure of starting with a socially distanced visit to one rifles earlier this month and I
02:59am determined it won't be long before I continue these visits elsewhere.
03:06It is equally important to me to meet your families whose support allows you to fulfil your duties and to
03:15keep the home fires burning when you are deployed overseas.
03:20And it will be an honour to join you in keeping alive the memory of those who have fallen.
03:29Rifleman, with the rest of the nation, I am profoundly in your debt for all that you do, especially during
03:37these troubled times.
03:39Continue to uphold those qualities of discipline, courage and a sense of humour that my father spoke of and be
03:48proud of all that you represent.
03:52Wherever you may be viewing this message, on operations in Afghanistan, deployed to Estonia, on exercise in the UK, or
04:03indeed enjoying some much deserved leave, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
04:10I'm very pumped.
04:11Thank you, everyone.
04:11And I amEast arch of music and I amstage you by my first time.
04:11Please pick up at all of my heart rates.
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