Members of the Corps supported the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on Saturday 6 May 2022
Communications Officer
Members of the Corps supported the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on Saturday 6 May 2022. Eight FANYs were colour points to help direct the troops upon their return to Buckingham Palace. They were positioned in Buckingham Palace Gardens as the 7,000 military troops return from the parade. FANYs joined the ‘three cheers’ in the Gardens as the newly crowned King and Queen Consort joined them from the terrace.
FANYs used their loggist (scribe) skills to provide support to the GOLD and SILVER Commanders in two locations during the Coronation. FANY loggists were first requested by the GOLD Commander in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and consequently the training now forms part of the mandatory requirements for all active members.
In addition, FANYs provided watchkeeping and logging support in the military ops room, providing a listening watch on the medical network and keeping track of any casualties within the parading troops.
The Corps has a long connection with the Royal Family, of which we are very proud. In 1945, the then HRH Princess Elizabeth trained with the FANY/ATS as a driver and in motor mechanics. During the first three weeks of training, Princess Elizabeth received driving lessons in Windsor Great Park and went through the complete training of an ATS driver. Princess Elizabeth became the twelfth member of a senior NCOs class and took maintenance, map-reading and ATS Administration.
In 1933, HRH The Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, became the first Commandant-in-Chief of the Corps and remained in post until she died in Spring 1981. Following her death, HRH The Princess Royal became Commandant-in-Chief. In 1999, after HRH The Princess Royal kindly gave permission to use her title, the Corps changed its name from WTS (FANY) to: FANY (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps), commonly abbreviated to: FANY (PRVC). Find out more about the Corps’ connection with the Royal Family here.
Lisa Giles, The Corps’ Commanding Officer, said:
“We are truly honoured to have been able to play our part in such a historic ceremony. As a Corps, we are very proud of our long history with the Royal Family, and it has been an immense privilege to support such an important event for the nation.”