Tanks in guard of honour

TWELVE tanks rolled past crowds of shoppers in Newcastle yesterday as the Prince of Wales took the salute from a parade of soldiers and veterans.

Hundreds packed the city centre as members of The Queen’s Own Yeomanry (QOY) paraded in a persistent drizzly rain.

Crowds applauded as the troops passed Grey’s Monument led by the Band of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, followed by veterans and the Scimitar light tanks.

The prince, who was wearing combat uniform, is the Royal Honorary Colonel of the regiment – an armoured territorial army unit which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The prince also met families of some of the soldiers who are currently heading out to Afghanistan