Freedom Parade in Winchester for the Adjutant General's Corps on Saturday October 15

The Adjutant General's Corps celebrated its 30th anniversary with a freedom parade down the High Street to the Guildhall on the morning of Saturday, October 15. 

The corps' deputy Colonel in Chief, the Duchess of Gloucester, was in attendance. The Duchess is married to Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is the first cousin of the late Queen.

Winchester Cops took to Facebook to share photos of the day.

The account posted: "You may have seen a larger than usual police presence in Winchester City Centre today, this was because of the Adjutant General Corps Freedom Parade. This parade is an ancient tradition allowing the regiment to parade through the city with 'bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying.

"It was a great opportunity for both Winchester City & Rural teams to work together alongside Winchester City Council and the Royal Military Police. The parade brought a large crowd together and it was good to see so many people out supporting the military.

"As you can see, some of our officers got a little wet during the event, but it was definitely all worth it!"

It comes as the city council has voted to grant freedom of entry to the School of Logistics and Administration, based at Worthy Down. The £300m investment was officially opened by Princess Anne in May 2021.

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The right of ‘Freedom of Entry’ to the city is an ancient privilege and allows a regiment to parade through the city with ‘bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’. It comes from a period in history when only trusted units would be allowed to carry arms within city boundaries.

The last freedom parade was due to have been in March 2020 with the Army Training Regiment but was cancelled because of Covid.

The city council awarded Freedom of Entry to the former Royal Army Pay Corps in 1970. The Pay Corps was amalgamated when the Adjutant General’s Corps was formed and the city council formally transferred the honour to the new Corps on 11 April 1996.

Winchester City Council also posted about the day on Facebook.

The account posted: "Freedom of Entry Parade. The Adjutant General Corps 30th anniversary. Despite the rain it was fantastic to see the parade and all the crowds of people who came to watch too!

"In case you’re wondering - Freedom of Entry into the city is an ancient privilege and allows the Corps to parade through the city to the beat of drums, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed and colours flying. It comes from a period in history when only trusted military units would be allowed to carry arms within city boundaries.

"It was wonderful to watch and hope those who came enjoyed it to."

The event saw the troops and band ‘stepping off’ from Peninsula Barracks, marching down the High Street, forming up in the Broadway, moving off around the King Alfred statue, marching to the Cathedral for a service and finally returning to the Guildhall for a civic reception.

City council leader Martin Tod, proposing the granting of freedom to the School of Logistics and Administration, at the full Council on Wednesday October 5, said: "We are proud of our historic links with the military. Education and the military have been part of this city since the time of King Alfred."

The vote to grant freedom was unanimous.

The city council has also recently renewed its Military Covenant, a pledge to support the armed forces.

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Cllr Derek Green said: “It is an honour to be part of the Adjutant General’s Corps 30th anniversary celebrations and for them to mark it by exercising their Freedom of Entry right into Winchester. It’s also an example of our excellent relationship with the military as recently reinforced by our recent signing of the Armed Forces Covenant too. I encourage residents and visitor alike to come and witness the parade, it promises to be an outstanding spectacle.”

Colonel Commandant Adjutant General’s Corps, Lieutenant General Ivan Jones, added: “Formed in April 1992, the Adjutant General’s Corps was granted the Freedom of Entry to the City of Winchester in 1996. As a Corps, this will be the fifth occasion we have had the privilege and honour to exercise this right, but the first in the presence of our Deputy Colonel in Chief, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester. The Corps will be displaying the new Corps Cypher, recently approved by Her Late Majesty The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps.”