Prince of Wales reflects on Dorset parachute jump 50 years ago
Charles, 72, was speaking as he presented new Colours to the Parachute Regiment. The prince was 23 years old when he completed his first parachute drop on July 29, 1971, from an Andover aircraft into Studland Bay. He was training as a jet pilot during a four-month attachment with the Royal Air Force at the time. Upon his appointment as Colonel in Chief of The Parachute Regiment in 1977, the prince requested to join a parachute training course at RAF Brize Norton in 1978. Addressing soldiers, veterans and families at the ceremony at Merville Barracks in Colchester, Essex Tuesday, he ...