RIAT 2008 Press Release

RAF FAIRFORD TO STAGE HISTORIC CEREMONY

Around 5,000 invited guests, representing current serving members of the Royal Air Force and its various associations and charities, will be invited to the private ceremony on Friday, July 11, to watch the presentation of new Queen's Colours to both the Royal Air Force in the UK and the Royal Air Force Regiment.

Although the Queen's Colour to the Royal Air Force in the UK was last presented at RAF Marham, Norfolk, in 1993, it is not since The Queen conducted a 'Silver Jubilee' Review of the Royal Air Force at RAF Finningley in south Yorkshire in 1977 that an event of this size has been staged.

The ceremony, comprising almost 800 Royal Air Force personnel, will begin with a Royal Salute and a flypast by four Typhoons from RAF Coningsby. The Colours will be escorted by the Queen's Colour Squadron (63 Squadron RAF Regiment), augmented by other Royal Air Force Regiment squadrons and 34 Squadron RAF Regiment. They will be supported by two further squadrons made up of RAF personnel from around the UK. The ceremony will include a parade of almost all of the RAF squadron standards.

Group Captain Tony Barmby, the RAF Project Officer for the Queen's Colours presentation event, said: “The Air Tattoo staff and the US Air Force organisation at RAF Fairford have bent over backwards to accommodate the RAF's needs to stage this once-in-15-years event.  For most RAF personnel, involvement in such a parade is a once-in-a-career experience.  I'm no different and I'm very proud to have the chance to play a part.  It would be easy to let the ceremonial aspects of the day eclipse the direct and hugely important link to current operations.  As the historical rallying point in battle, the Queen's Colours represent that link.  During this RAF 90th Anniversary year, we are reflecting on the sacrifices and achievements of RAF personnel - Past and Present - whilst looking to the Future.  For that reason, the presentation this year of new Queen's Colours from our Sovereign has even greater resonance.”

Before The Queen departs, she will be treated to a mass flypast of aircraft representing the Royal Air Force's past and present.

Coinciding with the Royal Air Force's 90th Anniversary, the ceremony will be staged as Air Tattoo organisers make last-minute preparations for the 160,000-plus people who are expected to attend the world's largest military airshow over the weekend.

Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said: “The presentation of new Queen's Colours is a very prestigious and significant occasion and it is being organised with all the precision and expertise you would expect from the Royal Air Force. Whilst we cannot take any credit for the organisation of this special ceremony my team feel that it is a huge honour to have been asked to provide the backdrop for it.

“I believe it is an illustration of the close relationship that has developed between the RAF, the Air Tattoo, and our parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.”

The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged annually in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. This summer's event will include official celebrations to mark the RAF's 90th Anniversary. For more details, visit www.airtattoo.com

Many of the 800 Royal Air Force personnel taking part in the ceremony on July 11 will have individual stories to tell of their contribution to UK military operations, both at home and overseas.

It is a ceremony which emphasises the importance of heritage and what it represents in terms of brave deeds accomplished over the past 90 years; one that lies at the core of Royal Air Force tradition and ethos, which underpins its fighting spirit.

It will begin with a Royal Salute and a flypast by four Typhoons from Royal Air Force Coningsby. After the old Colours are marched off to 'Auld Lang Syne', the new Colours will be consecrated, presented by The Queen and then paraded by the two escort squadrons from the Queen's Colour Squadron (63 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment) augmented by other Royal Air Force Regiment squadrons, and 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment. They will be supported by two further squadrons made up of Royal Air Force personnel from around the UK. The parade will also include almost all of the Royal Air Force squadrons' Standards. Ceremonial music will be provided by an 80-piece Mass Band of the Royal Air Force.

The history of Colours and Standards is an ancient one. In the earliest record of military forces mention is made of Colours and Standards being carried at the head of the regiment to show troops where to rally round their leader. Although Colours have not been carried in action since 1881, they have always been regarded as a symbol of the spirit of the fighting unit, reflecting as they do the Battle Honours and badges granted to that unit for gallant deeds. Today, the College of Arms, with its Kings of Arms, Heralds of Arms and Pursuivants of Arms, controls the granting of armorial bearings. Recognition by the Sovereign of the achievements of the Royal Air Force has been signified over the years by the award of King's and Queen's Colours.

The achievements of individual operational squadrons are commemorated by the award of ceremonial Standards. A Colour is the highest honour which the Sovereign can bestow, while squadron Standards are analogous to the regimental colours of the Army.

There are no special circumstances governing the granting of Queen's Colours, of which, so far, nine have been awarded to formations and establishments of the Royal Air Force and one to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. They are awarded by the Sovereign in recognition of Service achievement and they are presented by the Sovereign or a person nominated to act on the Sovereign's behalf. A Colour measures 3ft 9in square and is affixed to a pike 8ft 2in in length surmounted by a Royal Crown in gold.

On 27th December 1947, King George VI signified approval to the award of Colours to the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and No 1 School of Technical Training. The first Colour was presented by King George VI to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell on 6th July 1948. The second was presented by The Queen (then HRH The Princess Elizabeth), acting on behalf of King George VI, to the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom on 26th May 1951. The third Colour was presented by The Queen to No 1 School of Technical Training on 25th July 1952. Since then, The Queen has presented Colours to: the Royal Air Force Regiment on 17th March 1953; the Central Flying School on 26th June 1969; the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 12th June 1989 and Royal Air Force Halton on 31st October 1997.

The Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom is of Royal Air Force blue silk, with fringe, cord and tassels of mixed blue and white. It bears the Royal Cypher in the centre, between, in canton, the Union Flag and, in sinister base, three roundels superimposed red upon white upon blue. The Colour is held in custody for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom by The Queen's Colour Squadron.

The Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force Regiment is of Royal Air Force blue silk, with fringe, cord and tassels of mixed blue and white. It bears the Royal Cypher in the centre between, in canton, the Union Flag and, in sinister base, the badge of the Royal Air Force Regiment. The Colour, which was approved to mark the tenth anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force Regiment in 1942, was presented by Her Majesty The Queen in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace on 17 March 1953 to a representative detachment of the Royal Air Force Regiment. It is now held by the Royal Air Force Regiment Depot but may be paraded by any unit of the Royal Air Force Regiment at home and abroad.