On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) celebrated 100 years of defending the United Kingdom.
The most important part of the day was the RAF’s receiving a new colour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The colour was consecrated at Westminster Abbey:
A Service of Thanksgiving, open to the public, was also held that morning at St Clement Danes in the Strand, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. The church is unusual as it sits in the middle of the Strand.
Afterwards, the Presentation of the Colours was made at Buckingham Palace, where the RAF gathered in the forecourt. The centenary ceremony attracted a large number of spectators around the Palace and along the Mall, suitably decorated with Union flags and RAF flags:
The Presentation of Colours ended with a magnificent flypast of RAF planes from the Second World War to the present day. They flew in from various RAF bases around the country. It took months of work behind the scenes logistically to ensure that the planes — numbering 100 in total — arrived for the flypast on time and in position.
This is the Queen’s relationship to the RAF:
Below are a series of tweets of the ceremony:
Afterwards:
Another reception took place on Horse Guards parade:
It was yet another occasion to make one feel proud to be British!
Profound thanks go to the RAF for all they have done — and continue to do — in defence of the nation!
May God continue to guide and bless the RAF over the next 100 years!
This post first appeared on Churchmouse Campanologist | Ringing The Bells For, please read the originial post: here
