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 and Major General Robin Grist, Colonel of the Regiment, look on as the Procession approaches the Saluting Base. As a result of the Balkans conflict of 1999, the Freedom of Entry Ceremony for the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment had to be postponed from June, 1999, and actually took place on Thursday, 17th February at 11.45am. The Freedom Ceremony confers the right of the Regiment to march through the town with "Swords drawn, drums beating, bands playing, Colours flying and bayonets fixed," and is conferred by the Royal Borough. The Colours are of course of great significance to each and every soldier. They represent the central rallying point in battle in the event that they are separated from their colleagues during the melée.  Prince of Wales's Division at the Freedom Ceremony  as the Freedom Scroll was read During the Ceremony the Mayor of Windsor, Councillor Sandra Hopkins, presented the Freedom Scroll to HRH Prince Philip, Colonel in Chief. The Regiment then exercised its newly conferred right to march through the town. The following pictures illustrate the scene.     The route of the procession was from Guildhall in the High Street, up Castle Hill, St Alban's Street, and back again to the Guildhall where Prince Philip took the salute. The procession then proceeded down to Thames Street, River Street and Barry Avenue. Approximately 200 soldiers were on parade during the event. The day before a similar honour had been conferred on the Regiment by the City of Gloucester. The Regiment was formed in 1994 through the amalgamation of the Glosters and the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment and is shortly to move to Ballykinler in Northern Ireland for a two year tour of duty. Over the past six years, the Regiment has carried out training in the Maldives, Kuwait, Jordan, Canada, Botswana and Gibralter as well as operational tours in South Armagh, Northern Ireland and Kosovo. In addition, some members of the Regiment participated in adventurous training in Greenland in 1999 as well as rugby in South Africa. Lt Colonel Patrick Tomlinson, the Commanding Officer, said "It's been a challenging six years during which the Regiment has carried on the traditions of our former Regiments."
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