The Duke of York, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, joined Prince Laurent of Belgium for a wreath laying ceremony to mark the anniversary of the City’s liberation.
The Grenadier Guards played a key role in the liberation of the city in 1944, and during the ceremony two current Grenadier Guards formed a Guard of Honour at the Charles II Memorial where a wreath was laid by The Duke.
Their Royal Highnesses reviewed the Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards before they marched through the city to celebrate 75 years since it was liberated.
The Grenadier Guards can trace their origins back to Bruges during Charles II’s exile in the City, where in 1656 he formed a new Regiment for his own protection. Originally known as the First Regiment of Foot Guards, they were given title of the Grenadier Guards after the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium in 1815.
To finish the day in Bruges, The Duke visited the Guild of St Sebastian. A historic Guild for archers, the building was where Charles II stayed during his exile in the 17th Century.
