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  • 22 Sept 2026
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The Royal Yorkshire Regiment mark 20 years of service with anniversary parade

  • The Royal Yorkshire Regiment marked its 20th anniversary with a ceremonial parade at Imphal Barracks, York.  

  • Serving soldiers, veterans, cadets and families gathered to celebrate two decades of regimental service and heritage.  

  • The event included a Drum Head Service, infantry display, regimental music, family activities and presentations. 

The Royal Yorkshire Regiment marked its 20th anniversary with a regimental parade and family event at Imphal Barracks, York, on 12 September 2026, bringing together serving soldiers, veterans, cadets and families from across the regimental community.  

A person in a formal suit and bowler hat interacts with uniformed soldiers standing in formation. The soldiers wear brown uniforms with red and black peaked caps. They are outdoors, with trees and a building visible in the background.
A person in a decorated military uniform, featuring numerous medals and a hat with a red and blue band, interacts with individuals in camouflage uniforms. They are outdoors with a building and trees in the background.
Military personnel in formal dress uniforms march in formation, holding various ceremonial flags. The flags feature intricate designs and patterns, including a prominent Union Jack. The setting appears to be an outdoor event with trees and buildings in the background.
A person in a formal military uniform stands on a platform, saluting a group of soldiers holding flags. The soldiers are arranged in formation across an open area. The scene is framed by trees in the background.
A marching band performs outdoors, directed by a person in a red uniform with black and gold details. The musicians, also in red, play brass instruments on a paved area surrounded by trees.
A person in a formal suit and bowler hat interacts with uniformed soldiers standing in formation. The soldiers wear brown uniforms with red and black peaked caps. They are outdoors, with trees and a building visible in the background.

Brigadier (retired) Jackson (left) talks to soldiers from The Royal Yorkshire Regiment during their 20th Anniversary formation parade being held at Imphal Barracks, York.

A person in a decorated military uniform, featuring numerous medals and a hat with a red and blue band, interacts with individuals in camouflage uniforms. They are outdoors with a building and trees in the background.

Lieutenant General Stenning shakes a cadets hand prior to presenting him with his Royal Yorkshire Regiment cadet beret at Imphal Barracks, York during The Royal Yorkshire Regiments 20th anniversary formation parade.

Military personnel in formal dress uniforms march in formation, holding various ceremonial flags. The flags feature intricate designs and patterns, including a prominent Union Jack. The setting appears to be an outdoor event with trees and buildings in the background.

Flag bearers from The Royal Yorkshire Regiment stand to attention during the regiment’s 20th Anniversary formation parade at Imphal Barracks, York.

A person in a formal military uniform stands on a platform, saluting a group of soldiers holding flags. The soldiers are arranged in formation across an open area. The scene is framed by trees in the background.

Major General Humphris salutes as the National Anthem plays at Imphal Barracks, York for The Royal Yorkshire Regiments 20th Anniversary formation parade.

A marching band performs outdoors, directed by a person in a red uniform with black and gold details. The musicians, also in red, play brass instruments on a paved area surrounded by trees.

Captain Clegg (Centre) the Conductor from The Royal Yorkshire Regimental Band conducts the band during The Royal Yorkshire Regiments 20th Anniversary Parade at Imphal Barracks, York.

A person in a formal suit and bowler hat interacts with uniformed soldiers standing in formation. The soldiers wear brown uniforms with red and black peaked caps. They are outdoors, with trees and a building visible in the background.
A person in a decorated military uniform, featuring numerous medals and a hat with a red and blue band, interacts with individuals in camouflage uniforms. They are outdoors with a building and trees in the background.
Military personnel in formal dress uniforms march in formation, holding various ceremonial flags. The flags feature intricate designs and patterns, including a prominent Union Jack. The setting appears to be an outdoor event with trees and buildings in the background.
A person in a formal military uniform stands on a platform, saluting a group of soldiers holding flags. The soldiers are arranged in formation across an open area. The scene is framed by trees in the background.
A marching band performs outdoors, directed by a person in a red uniform with black and gold details. The musicians, also in red, play brass instruments on a paved area surrounded by trees.

Formed on 6 June 2006, the Regiment celebrated two decades of service, heritage and achievement with a Drum Head Service and formal anniversary parade featuring personnel from across the Regiment and its associated organisations. 

The new Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Sam Humphries CB MBE, attended.

He said: “To take over the responsibility on any day would be special.  But I feel particularly proud – and very humbled – to be able to mark The Royal Yorkshire Regiment’s incredible and storied achievements, over its twenty years of distinguished service, as the Regiment’s new Colonel. 

“It's an incredible honour and a privilege to take on this role; I won't pretend otherwise. 

“What makes this Regiment different is that we're bound together as a family, and that's our real strength. It's what gets us through the hard times, and it's probably why I'm still serving. 

“That comradeship lasts a lifetime, and to be entrusted with leading it is a wonderful responsibility."

Following the parade, celebrations continued with an infantry display, music from The Royal Yorkshire Regiment Band, presentations, family activities.

The event welcomed serving soldiers, members of The Royal Yorkshire Regiment Association, cadets and their families, as well as recruits from the Infantry Training Centre Catterick and Army Foundation College Harrogate. 

A highlight of the afternoon was a cadet field gun display delivered by Royal Yorkshire Regiment cadets, showcasing teamwork, precision and determination. Cadets then challenged teams from across the Regiment to beat their competition time in a friendly contest. 

Music throughout the day was provided by The Royal Yorkshire Regiment Band, supporting both the formal parade and anniversary celebrations. 

The anniversary event was designed to strengthen the bonds between serving personnel, veterans, families and the wider regimental family while celebrating the Regiment's achievements over the previous 20 years. 

The celebrations also gave soldiers from across the Regiment's recruiting footprint an opportunity to share their experiences of service and reflect on the importance of belonging to a regiment with deep Yorkshire roots and traditions. 

The British Army is recruiting right now to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs and support roles. If you’re aged 16 to 50 and if you want to find out more about a career in the Army, click Army Jobs website.