Freedom of the city march

A warm welcome

Crowds lined the streets today as soldiers from The 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, who have just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, marched through the city. The march began at the Peace Statue in Hove and terminated in New Road where the Battalion was formally welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mr Peter Field, Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier Richard Dennis OBE ADC, and the Mayor of Brighton & Hove Councillor Anne Meadows.

Freedom of the city

The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment has its origins in the Royal Sussex Regiment which was granted Freedom of Brighton in 1944 and Hove in 1958. The Regiment last exercised its right to march through the town in 1995. In 1996 it was granted Freedom of the City of Brighton & Hove.

A civic reception

The Regiment, also known as ‘The Tigers’ presented a gift of a silver tiger to the city. A reciprocal gift of an original piece of art depicting the Royal Pavilion and a tiger was presented by The Mayor. Soldiers and their families were then invited to a civic reception in the Royal Pavilion gardens.

Comments about this page

  • What a great set of images of a local event. My brother served 22 years in the Royal Sussex, was blown up in Aden and had his leg broken in a riot in Belfast. Brighton has an overlooked military history with B&H stalwart Roy Grant the principal historical source[The Brighton Garrison]. As usual The Argus got it all wrong last week, showing the ‘Tigers’ but including a picture of a grinning skinhead waving an English Defence League flag. How tasteless. And journalism at its worst, as the image had no reference in the text. Well done My B&H for an accurate up-to-the-minute display!

    By Geoffrey Mead (23/06/2011)
  • How could they have been granted the Freedom of the City of Brighton & Hove in 1996 when the Queen only granted City status to the two towns in 2000?

    By Alan Phillips (24/06/2011)
  • In those days it was called “Freedom of the Town”. Hello Geoffrey Mead, give my regards to Phil (I fought with him). 

    Best regardS, Les Deacon (Sgt, Royal Sussex Regt. 1961-73). 

    By Leslie Deacon (25/07/2017)

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