Hungerford Arcade has had many Royal visitors and those connected with them. However, it was a first to have the Queen’s Escort who served on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
David Bateman (now Lord David F.C. Bateman) joined the Royal Air Force in 1983 and served until 2008, serving some of that time aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as the Queen’s Escort. Britannia was his home and his country wherever she went in the world. David and his wife, Dorothy even had their marriage Banns read on the Royal Yacht and her Majesty took a keen interest and kept up to date asking David if all is in order with the wedding preparations.
David served as a Medic in Afghanistan in 2006 and due to his injuries has reluctantly retired.
All of us at Hungerford Arcade send our very best wishes to Lord David and Lady Dorothy Bateman.
Rita
DECOMMISSIONING
Because Britannia played such an important role in the public and private lives of the Royal Family for over four decades, it is no surprise that her decommissioning was a sad day for all.
