General (Retired) David H Petraeus US Army, representing Her Majesty The Queen, was the Reviewing Officer at the 167th Sovereign's Parade on Friday 16 December 2011.

Commissioning Course 111 Prize Winners

The Sword of Honour, awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the course, was presented to Senior Under Officer Harry Thomas, who is to commission into The Blues and Royals (Household Cavalry).

Harry, aged 24, was brought up in Essex and Cambridge, went to Bishop’s Stortford College where he was Head Boy and then to Oxford University where he gained a degree in History and English.

During his gap year between school and university he qualified as a ski instructor in France, climbed in the Himalayas and taught English at a refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border.  He has cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats, has played rugby at County and University level and has acted in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Overseas Sword, awarded to the Overseas Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake, was presented to Cadet Sergeant Chen Mingxiang from Singapore.

Chen, aged 22, was brought up in Singapore and gained a Diploma in Banking and Financial Studies.  He was commissioned into the Singapore Army before coming to Sandhurst.

Chen represented Singapore at the World Dragon-boating Championships held in Prague in 2009. He represented the Academy in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race (123 miles in 23 hours).

After leaving Sandhurst Chen will go on to Edinburgh University.

The Queen's Medal, awarded to the Officer Cadet who gains the highest score in military, practical and academic subjects, was presented to Junior Under Officer Christopher Higton, who is to commission into The King’s Royal Hussars.

Christopher, aged 25, was brought up in Surrey.  He went to Charterhouse School and then to Bristol University, where he gained a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

Before starting the Commissioning Course, Christopher was a Second Lieutenant in the Territorial Army (Royal Wessex Yeomanry), having attended the TA Commissioning Course in 2009.

Christopher is a keen skier and restores classic vehicles