The Royal Anglian Regiment has been presented with new colours as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

Some 5,000 soldiers, veterans and their families gathered at the Imperial War Museum Duxford to mark the anniversary and the arrival of the new colours, which were presented by the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.

The Royal Anglian Regiment was formed in 1964 from the county regiments of East Anglia and the East Midlands, carrying on the proud traditions of units whose history that can be traced back to 1685.

The colours, originally carried as a rallying point on the battlefield, carry the regiment’s battle honours and represent its loyalty to the crown.

New colours are only presented every generation with the previous colours presented in 1995 at Duxford, where the Royal Anglian Regimental Museum and the Regimental Memorial have since been established.

More than 200 soldiers from the regiment’s three battalions, two regular and one reserve, were on parade while their antecedent colours were marched off for the final time.

At the end of the service, the Duke said: “I am delighted to be present at this historic occasion and take great pleasure in presenting these Colours on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

“The Royal Anglian Regiment is very modern and forward thinking, but we hold our county roots very close to our heart and our history and geography contribute so much to who we are.”

Lieutenant General Phil Jones CBE, the Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, said: “Having lived in the regiment for my whole life, I feel enormously proud to be involved as the regiment receives its new colours This parade has allowed us to gather the regimental family together to reflect on our heritage, the sacrifice of so many and the steadfastness of our soldiers.”