Herefordshire soldier's proudest moment representing Prince Philip

Captain James Aubrey, of The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), was one of two assistant equerries to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 16.

An equerry is a military officer who supports a Senior Royal, responsible for managing diaries, invitations and accompanying members of The Royal Family to events, making sure things run to time. They also undertake some of the correspondence.

Capt Aubrey, 29 from Ross-on-Wye, said never in his wildest dreams thought he would be given such an important role, supporting one of the Senior Royals.

Despite Prince Philip stepping down from public duties in 2017, he continued to be on hand to assist at royal events and supporting other members of the royal family during his two years in the post.

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Prince Philip became Colonel-in-Chief of the REME in July 1969, taking over from his cousin The Princess Marina Duchess of Kent.

The Army said the bond has always been strong with Prince Philip making many visits to the REME over the years.

Capt Aubrey said: “His Royal Highness developed a fascination for engineering whilst serving with the Royal Navy in the Second World War. He thoroughly enjoyed his interactions with the Corps and his love for our people and our trade was clear to see.

“I first met His Royal Highness when we sat together at a young officers’ dinner at West Court Officers Mess in 2015.

“It was not long before the REME moved to their new home at Lyneham.”

Subsequently, he met the Duke of Edinburgh in March 2016 at the opening of The Prince Philip Barracks at the former RAF Lyneham site – now the home of the REME and of all technical training for the Army.

Prince Philip opens The Prince Philip Barracks, Lyneham, Wiltshire in 2016

He also designed the plaque that Prince Philip unveiled and remembered it as a proud moment.

The greatest honour for Capt Aubrey came when he represented the Duke of Edinburgh at the Cenotaph in 2019, laying a wreath on his behalf during the remembrance commemorations.

The eyes of the nation were on him, who said he was “privileged to have been given the honour”.

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Having completed an engineering degree at the University of Birmingham, he joined the Army in 2012.

He had wanted to serve his country from the age of 13, having been enticed by a double page spread about Welbeck College. He commissioned into the REME and has never looked back.

Captain James Aubrey, REME

“I’m from a farming background,” the former pupil at John Kyrle High School said.

"“My family runs a farm in Herefordshire. There’s no military in the family at all. I think they were surprised when I said that I wanted to join, but they’re proud of me.”

Being an equerry is one of three roles he has. He’s also the Corps Adjutant, supporting the Corps Colonel, and he’s the military assistant to the Master General REME Lieutenant General Paul Jaques CB CBE.

On Saturday, at the Duke's funeral, he looked after the Master General.