Royal couple visits Amberley

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge viewed an F/A-18F Super Hornet, experienced a flight in a Super Hornet simulator and met with Australian Defence Force personnel, families and veterans during a visit to Australia’s largest air base on 19 April.

The Duke and Duchess also planted a tree at RAAF Base Amberley’s Memorial Garden in honour of the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Royal Australian Air Force.

They met the families of four personnel killed in recent conflicts. The families of Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, Lance Corporal Stjepan ‘Rick’ Milosevic, Trooper David Pearce and Private Matthew Lambert represented all families who have lost loved ones during combat operations.

A RAAF Royal Guard, with musical support from the RAAF Band, greeted their Royal Highnesses on their arrival.

The Royal Guard comprised 102 personnel from all RAAF Base Amberley units. They marched with massed squadron colours and standards along with the Queen’s Colours and Governor-General’s Banner.

The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, and the Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, accompanied the royal couple on the base tour.

Flight Lieutenant Jasmine Richards gave the Duke and Duchess a guided inspection of a Super Hornet.

“I was very honoured and excited to meet the royal couple, but I don’t think I stopped shaking,” she said.

Flight Lieutenant Jasper McCaldin took the pair through a simulator experience.

“They were a great team. The Duke flew very naturally, doing loops and aileron rolls with full after-burner to push the speed up to 600 knots, which was fantastic to see,” Flight Lieutenant McCaldin said.