Queen Camilla celebrated the founding of the Royal Hospital Chelsea by paying tribute to the “courage, discipline, loyalty” of its famous pensioners. Camilla joined families and friends for the hospital’s Founder’s Day event and highlighted the irreverent spirit of the men and women cared for there.
Famed for their scarlet tunics and three-cornered hats, dozens of Chelsea pensioners, all Army veterans, marched past the Queen after she had spent time talking to many of them standing to attention. Others sat around the parade ground watching the ceremony, but those too frail to take part did not miss out as Camilla visited the infirmary before events began.
In a speech, the Queen told the hospital staff, pensioners and the hundreds of invited guests: “You offer care, camaraderie and community to those men and women who have served our nation, whilst upholding the highest standards. At the same time, I gather from some ‘off-the-record’ conversations with pensioners, that it is also a place of secretive gin bars, port associations and the feeding of foxes, done at night to dodge the quartermaster.”
She added: “The Scarlet Coat Brigade might now be slightly less nimble on their feet than in their youth, but you remain an example for us all. Your timeless values of courage, discipline, loyalty, selflessness and honour are a legacy of your years of service to this country. You and your families have proved, in times of hardship, our armed forces will never fail to step up and defend our freedom. And for that, we are all in your debt.”
Founder’s Day is held on a date near May 29, marking both the birthday of King Charles II who founded the hospital in the late 17th century, and the anniversary of his restoration to the throne in 1660. The event is also known as Oak Apple Day, and the pensioners wear sprigs of oak leaves in recognition of Charles II escaping capture after the Civil War Battle of Worcester in 1651, by hiding in an oak tree.
When Camilla met some of the pensioners in the hospital’s infirmary she quipped: “I think I would be happy living here – I qualify with age. It’s the perfect place to be.”
