The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have come face to face with the world’s oldest continually operating mounted police force on the third day of their Australian tour.
Eight police horses, standing 16 hands or above by regulation, trotted in figure of eights and stopped a stand-in troublemaker as their royal highnesses watched on at the New South Wales mounted police headquarters in Sydney’s inner west.
George IV was halfway through his reign when the mounted force was established in 1825, its “ultimate achievement to date” listed as a 2012 invitation for the unit to perform in the Queen’s diamond jubilee pageant at Windsor Castle.
The royal pair were greeted at the unit’s headquarters by the police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, his wife, Joy, and the state’s deputy premier, Troy Grant. Curious horses watched from their stables as the prince wandered through in his familiar grey pinstripe suit, Camilla trailing in a cream coat.
They were led to the menage, a small showground, where the police horses performed, followed by members of Riding for the Disabled. The prince and duchess inspected each horse, coolly petting the animals and shaking hands with mounted officers.
They later met representatives from Indigenous Police Recruitment, Women in Police and the state’s dog squad.
Scipione said the event had gone off without a hitch. “These days don’t happen every day,” he said. “I’m a very pleased commissioner.”
Later on Thursday the duchess visited OzHarvest, a food rescue charity, while Prince Charles was to attend a roundtable on skills for psychological recovery with Sir Angus Houston, the recipient of one of the year’s less controversial knighthood appointments.
The couple was to meet the public on Thursday afternoon in Martin Place and attend a dinner at Admiralty Housewith the governor general, General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
