Dinner marks RAFs 90 years

The evening before Prince William’s graduation, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, attended a dinner and ceremony at RAF Cranwell to mark 90 years of the Royal Air Force.

Prince Charles and the duchess arrived at College Hall Officers’ Mess, at about 7.40pm and were greeted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy and his wife, Lady Christine Torpy.

Prince William was among the guests — about 170 RAF personnel and their partners — who met on the front steps of the college to see the royal couple arrive.

The duchess wore an outfit by Versace, a two-tone blue dress under a navy blue evening coat with silver embroidery.

Prince Charles stood on a podium with the former Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Johns, to watch a ceremony that started with music by the RAF College Band.

Sir Johns was Prince Charles’s flying instructor at Cranwell in 1971.

A total of 32 members of the Queen’s Colour Squadron, which is based at RAF Uxbridge, performed a parade of 460 drill manoeuvres before the royal salute was given.

Other members of the Queen’s Colour Squadron formed a guard of honour before a flypast by a Spitfire followed by four Typhoon jets.

The Royal party moved into the officers’ mess where they privately met Prince William to congratulate him on completing his RAF training and sign the visitors’ book.

They then met RAF staff prior to a four-course meal.

There was smoked chicken with potato salad, a fish course of sea bass with ratatouille, and a main course of roasted fillet of beef, followed by strawberry meringue, and coffee and chocolates.

Music was by the band of the Royal Air Force College, conducted by Warrant Officer Gary Stevens.

Prince Charles gave a speech about his memories of his training at RAF Cranwell.

The RAF was founded on April 1, 1918, when the Royal Flying Corp and Royal Naval Air Service combined to form a single air service, which was a world first.