The 151st Sovereign's Parade

King Abdullah II of Jordan today represented Queen Elizabeth II as the Reviewing Officer at the 151st Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The King, who was accompanied by Queen Rania inspected some 236 Officer Cadets passing out to gain their commissions. There were around 480 cadets on parade, including 48 overseas cadets from 29 countries including the sons of the King of Bahrain and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.

Prince William took part in the parade with the rest of his Blenheim Company. This is the first time Prince William takes part in a Sovereign’s Parade.

Prince William is due to pass out in December.

King Abdullah II and indeed the whole Jordanian Royal Family have close links with the Royal Military Academy as three generations of the family have attended the academy and many including the late King Hussein have acted as Reviewing Officers.

After the parade, the King made a speech where he congratulated all Cadets on the occasion of their passing out, he then said “the parade has achieved the usual faultless standards that we have come to expect from Sandhurst.

“We live in a very dangerous and unstable world driven by need, greed, self interest and religious intolerance. Never have our armies needed young leaders more who rise above such injustices and set the standards much of the rest of society has sadly forsaken.

“Sandhurst has taught you those standards, so have the courage of your convictions to exercise them. I have no doubt that you will be challenged much sooner than you expect. Hopefully it will not be in battle, although it may well be.”

The first Sovereign’s Parade was held in 1948 and was attended by King George VI.

Click Here to see pictures of the 151st Sovereign's Parade.