The Duke of Gloucester marks the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force at Buckingham Palace

Spectators have gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to see the King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force and colour parties from nine Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) squadrons celebrate 100 years of volunteer reserve service in the RAF by taking part in a unique parade. 

The Sovereign’s Colour of the RAuxAF was marched before the The Duke of Gloucester, who is Honorary Air Commodore in Chief of the RAuxAF.

This is the first time that the King’s Colour of the RAuxAF has been paraded at Buckingham Palace and the new RAuxAF military march was premiered before the His Royal Highness and its composer, Squadron Leader Ted Sellers, Director of Music of the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force is the reserve element of the Royal Air Force whose members contribute their spare time service to the defence of this country. It can trace its roots back to the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) and RAF Special Reserve founded in 1924 to provide trained personnel to support the RAF wherever it is deployed.

The first squadron, No. 502 (Ulster), was established in May 1925. All unit’s identities were firmly fixed to the cities, counties and regions of the UK, and other squadrons were formed later that year in Glasgow, London and Edinburgh.