1.
GV Troops
0.05

2.
LV Queen out of car and greeted by officers
0.24

3.
GV Troops
0.27

4.
GV Queen in open Land Rover inspects troops
0.50

5.
GV Guests
0.53

6.
GV PAN Queen on to saluting dais
1.05

7.
GV PAN First World War tank past in parade
1.07

8.
GV Queen takes salute as armoured cars and tanks drive past in parade
1.56

9.
GV & SCU Helicopters fly past
2.00



Initials JSU/VS/MGT/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Queen Elizabeth flew to West Germany this morning (Friday) to take the salute at a massed armoured parade led by a veteran 1917 Mark V tank to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Tank Regiment. Three of the five tank regiments of which the Queen is Colonel-in-Chief are stationed in West Germany.

The regiment's Centurions and Chieftains were joined at Lueneburgh Heath by units from Britain and Berlin for the display of 287 vehicles.

Tanks were first used in action in September 1916, but the Tank Corps was created only in the following year, when they had their first great victory at Cambrai in France.

For the Queen it was a flying visit of only six hours. She was returning from nearby Celle in a Comet of the Royal Air Force Transport Command to London in the afternoon.

She wore a pink coat with matching hat as she addressed 700 assembled men, stressing the interest her grandfather, her father and she herself had always taken in the regiment.

Over 2,000 soldiers and their families watched the ceremony.