King Charles and his sister Princess Anne teamed up for a rare joint engagement on Monday, attending a special parade at Windsor Castle.
The monarch, in his role as Colonel in Chief, The Household Cavalry, and Anne, who is Colonel of The Blues and Royals, attended a presentation of new standards to The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
The standards symbolise the Cavalry Squadrons' history, achievements and identity, and are held in the highest reverence.
You may also like
Discover the best photos from their outing below...
1/10
© Getty Images
Anne's arrival
Princess Anne was joined by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne, Colonel, The Life Guards ahead of the presentation of the New Standards.
2/10
© Getty Images
Anne's outfit
For the special occasion, King Charles's sister wore a Full Mounted Ceremonial uniform of the Blues and Royals which she teamed with her bicorn hat.
3/10
© Getty Images
King Charles's arrival
During the presentation, Charles, 76, entered to the National Anthem and was received on the dais in the Quadrangle by a Royal Salute.
4/10
© Getty Images
King Charles's outfit
For the ceremonial event, the monarch wore his Field Marshal's uniform.
5/10
© Getty Images
Inspecting the parade
Charles appeared in high spirits as he inspected members of the Household Cavalry.
He was joined by his sister Anne, as well as Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne.
6/10
© Getty Images
Elsewhere, he was also seen saluting to military personnel.
7/10
© Getty Images
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
The Chaplain General of His Majesty's Land Forces consecrated the Standards before they were presented to The King and handed to the Commanding Officers.
The new Standards are crafted from silk damask with gold and silver embroidery.
They will be used more routinely by the regiments wherever they are based as opposed to the Sovereign's Standards, which are used on all royal duties and processions of State.
8/10
© Getty Images
The Household Cavalry is comprised of two senior regiments in the British Army: The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals. It is divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Since 1660, the soldiers of the Household Cavalry have acted as the monarch's trusted guardians, as well as being the public face of the British Army both at home and abroad.
9/10
© Getty Images
The monarch's speech
Charles concluded the ceremony by delivering a speech in which he shone a spotlight on the enduring values of duty, honour, and tradition that the Household Cavalry represents.
"At such a time of global uncertainty, it is of crucial importance to preserve the attributes of excellence and achievement for which you are famous, and which are symbolised by these Standards," he said.
"They are the embodied soul of the Regiment. Carry them with pride, that you may do your duty and serve your Country well."
He went on to say: "These Union Standards remain a physical reminder of that very personal bond between the Sovereign and the Regiments of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals.
"They have lasted the test of time... and remain a golden thread that connects the present to an illustrious past."
10/10
© Getty Images
'They have such a close bond'
HELLO!'s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, said of their joint engagement: "It's always great to see the King and Princess Royal out on engagements together, they have such a close bond and so much shared experience of supporting their military patronages.
"The presentation of new colours is one that dates back centuries - as the King himself put it, they are the 'golden thread that connects the present to an illustrious past' - but it's also a ceremony that the late Queen Elizabeth took part in so many times throughout her reign and I'm sure it means a lot to them to continue the tradition."
ROYAL FAN? JOIN THE CLUB
Welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club, where thousands of royal fans like you get to delve deeper into the wonderful world of royalty every day. Want to join them? Just click the button below for a list of club benefits and joining information.
JOIN THE CLUB
Charles's close bond with Anne
The King and his sister Anne have been close for decades. They established an unbreakable bond during their childhood and continue to support each other in the spotlight.
Charles was memorably by his sister's side when she took part in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, the pair poignantly leant on each other during the late Queen's funeral, and Anne took on the role of Charles's Gold-Stick-in-Waiting during his majestic coronation in 2023. She resumed this role in November that year during the State Opening of Parliament.
© Getty Images
Beyond this, the royal sibling duo have multiple shared passions, including horse riding, the great outdoors, sustainability and gardening.
During a conversation with Simon Armitage on Radio 4's The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed, Charles shared: "My sister and I had a little vegetable patch in the back of some border somewhere. We had great fun trying to grow tomatoes rather unsuccessfully and things like that."
LISTEN: How King Charles found out about Harry's shocking interview
