Queen Camilla issues five-word warning as she makes rare speech on Ukraine war

Queen Camilla made a rare political comment about the ongoing Ukraine war on Thursday evening during a reception at the Guildhall. The Queen, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles, began her address by paying tribute to the regiment’s role in the Crimean War in the 1850s.

The Queen attended the reception at the Guildhall

Looking elegant in a festive red velvet Fiona Clare dress, she said: “Only recently we marked the 80th anniversaries of both victory in Europe and victory over Japan. During these moments of commemoration, I was fortunate to speak privately with so many of our surviving veterans who voiced a clear and unanimous plea, the path to peace must be pursued with the same vigour and determination that our Forces prepare for combat.

The Queen made a rare speech on the war

“It is only fitting, then, to rewind the clock 170 years, when The Rifles’ antecedents stood alongside our European allies in modern-day Ukraine.” The Queen, who has a deep connection to the Armed Forces thanks to her father, Major Bruce Shand, continued: “Let us hope, as our antecedents did then, that our resolve to stand up to tyranny in this same region can again find a resolution to anther devastating and brutal war.”

Her Majesty also used the speech to thank her equerry, Major Ollie Plunket, who will soon leave his post after three years and be replaced by Major Rob Treasure. She said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Major Ollie Plunket, who has been my staunch equerry for the past three years. The Queen succeeded Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles regiment in July 2020. Her connection to the military runs far deeper as her father had a distinguished war record.

He served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War, earning the Military Cross twice, once in 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his North Africa campaign. Despite being wounded and captured in the same region, he survived the ordeal, passing away at the age of 89 in June 2006.

The Queen spoke about her father’s war experiences earlier this year to mark the 80th anniversary of VE-Day. Sitting down at Clarence House alongside veteran Douglas Cracknell, Camilla asked, “When you came back from the war, did you talk about it? Or not a lot?” Douglas replied, “No, no,” before Camilla added: “I don’t think any of you did very much. I could never get my father to ever talk to us, but I think really that should be talked about. We need it for future generations.”