Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire
ROYAL VISIT TO THE MUSEUM
While attending the Rifles Freedom parade, The Duchess of Cornwall visited The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum and also attended a reception hosted by The Rifles regiment and the Mayor of Salisbury in a marquee set up in the grounds of the museum.
During her visit to the museum, she was able to relax and take a break from the proceedings in the museum's library, which was hastily converted into a comfortable living room for her to relax in. Afterwards she awarded bravery medals to soldiers from the Rifles who had served in Afghanistan in the Regimental Room. She was also very taken with 'Bobbie' the dog who was wounded at the battle of Maiwand in 1880, Afghanistan and who met Queen Victoria who gave him an Afghan medal. Our picture shows her standing next to him.
On 16th October 2004 the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (one of the regiments of which formed The Rifles) was granted the Freedom of the City of Salisbury. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip in his capacity as Colonel in Chief, received the honour on behalf of the Regiment and took the salute in the Market Square. Later, when the regiment became the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry it exercised its right to march through the streets with 'Colours flying, bayonets fixed and band playing' and the last 'Freedom Parade' took place in Salisbury on 14th October 2006.
The Rifles do not have 'Colours' so they will march with 'Bugles sounding, Officer's swords drawn, Riflemen carrying rifles and band playing'!
During her visit to the museum, she was able to relax and take a break from the proceedings in the museum's library, which was hastily converted into a comfortable living room for her to relax in. Afterwards she awarded bravery medals to soldiers from the Rifles who had served in Afghanistan in the Regimental Room. She was also very taken with 'Bobbie' the dog who was wounded at the battle of Maiwand in 1880, Afghanistan and who met Queen Victoria who gave him an Afghan medal. Our picture shows her standing next to him.
On 16th October 2004 the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (one of the regiments of which formed The Rifles) was granted the Freedom of the City of Salisbury. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip in his capacity as Colonel in Chief, received the honour on behalf of the Regiment and took the salute in the Market Square. Later, when the regiment became the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry it exercised its right to march through the streets with 'Colours flying, bayonets fixed and band playing' and the last 'Freedom Parade' took place in Salisbury on 14th October 2006.
The Rifles do not have 'Colours' so they will march with 'Bugles sounding, Officer's swords drawn, Riflemen carrying rifles and band playing'!