The Queen's Royal Visit

Two Cardiff University students were recently given the opportunity to play a major role in the Queen’s visit to the city of Gloucester. The two third year students are part of the University of Wales Royal Naval Unit, based in Penarth, who were given the responsibility to transport the Queen, down the Gloucester Canal, into the historic docks and the city itself. Aboard their ship, HMS Express, they were able to demonstrate ceremonial duties, like parading their dress uniform on the flying deck and hoisting the Queen’s Pennant, as well as securing the boat once they reached the docks, all of which were conducted in front of the Queen and the thousands of spectators who lined the banks of the canal.

Senior Midshipman Aaron Corp commented that “It was an absolute thrill to have Her Majesty on Board HMS Express”, whilst Divisional Midshipman Andrew Barley said “Being able to say that the Queen was aboard and to be part of that was a fantastic opportunity for me. I think we were all feeling very proud that we’d been chosen to do this”. Neither knew until a few weeks before that they would be a part of this great experience.

The University of Wales Royal Naval Unit is made up of 60 dedicated students from a variety of Universities across South Wales, who are carefully selected, and frequently spend weekends training around the South West, as well as weeks away, deployed around Europe, during the Easter and Summer Holidays.