Dear Editor:
As I watched the ceremonies in London this past week to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, I reflected on my experience as a member of the RCMP Musical Ride during our six-month official visit to the U.K. in 1957.
We performed the Ride for the Royal Family three times and the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Queen inspected our troop at the Lifeguards Barracks in Windsor and later invited us to Windsor Castle for a tour and tea. I remember Prince Phillip backing into one of the horses and excusing himself, as he thought he had bumped into one of our members. However, when he realized one of the horses had nudged him, he got a chuckle out of it. I guess our horse wanted to touch royalty.
We performed the Ride at fourteen locations in England, as well as the Edinburgh Tattoo. We had a great time and were well-received during this tour.
I was pleased to see the Queen looking so well during these most recent celebrations, and to see the festivities so well attended.
John Ginter
Invermere
