HM Queen II Letter

Her Majesty The Queen

A message from Colonel REME – Colonel Jason Phillips ADC

The REME Family,

While the official period of mourning has now ended, I know that the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has guided the United Kingdom with constancy through decades of uncertainty and change, will take much longer to process. It is entirely normal to feel this loss and to need time to reflect and reconcile thoughts and emotions. At this difficult time, I hope you draw comfort and solace from knowing you have been so very privileged to have pledged your oath of allegiance to her and to have served in her Armed Forces.

In a letter of condolence to Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, I wrote that “Her Majesty epitomised duty, selfless commitment and loyalty to all of us throughout her unprecedented 70-year reign. She was our guiding light and a source of unwavering stability in this turbulent world.” I also mentioned how the Corps was honoured to have 63 servicewomen and men from 8 Training Battalion REME lining part of the Procession route for Her Majesty’s State Funeral.

To generate 63 members of our Corps in tailored No1 Dress at pace so that they were ready for rehearsals and the Procession itself was no mean feat. Thank you to all those directly and indirectly involved in their preparation, not least Major Marc Wilding who led this contingent. I also want to thank the many other REME personnel who were committed to support the wider security operation in and around London and Windsor to enable the safe conduct of these historic events; in particular, 3 Armoured (Close Support) Battalion REME and 5 (Force Support) Battalion REME. Thank you all.

I hope that you all continue to reflect with enormous pride on your dedicated service to our late sovereign and Commander-in-Chief, and now look forward to loyally serving our new King, His Majesty King Charles III.

God save The King.

Arte et Marte.