ONE old comrade had been brought out of retirement so he could meet the Duke during the parade.
Winston - the Hussars' mascot, named after one of the regiment's most well-known officers, Winston Churchill - was re-introduced to the Duke during the ceremony after coming out of retirement earlier this year.
The grey Clydesdale drum horse, which weighs just under a ton, returned to the regiment a day before the royal visit after the Hussars' serving drum horse, Peninsula, was retired by military vets.
Sixteen-year-old Winston, who was given to the Hussars by Prince Philip 10 years ago, has been working on a Buckinghamshire farm pulling wood to keep fit while Peninsula served with the regiment.
However, Cpl Nick Fell said as the horse, which is 19 hands, had not worn his military regalia for so many years, it would not have been safe to put the ceremonial dress on him.
"Winston has not had the drums on him for so long he would have gone bananas if we had tried," he said.
"He will now be re-trained."
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