Queen Camilla has paused her weekend to honour a deeply personal chapter of wartime history, marking the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo—the heroic Dunkirk evacuation that took place from 26 May to 4 June 1940.
The poignant moment held special meaning for the Queen Consort, as her father, Major Bruce Shand, was among the British troops evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. On 31 May 1940, he returned safely to England, landing in Margate.
In a heartfelt statement shared on the Royal Family’s official social media accounts, Camilla reflected on the courage of those involved:
“Today, and together with the nation, The King and I would like to remember the heroic and unprecedented civilian war effort of Operation Dynamo on its 85th anniversary.
“Over nine days, an eclectic collection of seafarers, ferry masters, barge hands, fishermen and children, with their Little Ships, achieved the great evacuation of more than 338,000 troops who were fighting with their backs to the sea at Dunkirk.”
A Personal Connection
Camilla went on to pay special tribute to her late father, recalling a vivid and humble memory he once shared: “My father, who was amongst their number and safely transported home 85 years ago today, recalled wading out to a cement ship to find refuge and rest in its wheelhouse. He noted in his memoirs that, ‘The ship was commanded by a midshipman who looked about twelve, assisted by a boatswain aged eighty.’”
With unmistakable pride and emotion, she added: “I know that my father, together with his comrades of the British Expeditionary Force and the Allied armies that were fortunate enough to find safe passage, would today be grateful beyond words for this lifeline.”
— Camilla R.
The tribute was accompanied by black-and-white archival photographs of the evacuation and a solemn portrait of Bruce Shand in his military uniform.
Major Bruce Shand: A Life of Service
Born on 22 January 1917, Bruce Shand was commissioned into the 12th Lancers in 1937. His wartime service extended beyond Dunkirk to campaigns in North Africa. On 6 November 1942, he was captured by German forces but later escaped during a prison evacuation.
After retiring from the Army in 1947 due to a war injury, Bruce transitioned to civilian life as a respected wine merchant and military author. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 89.
Fulfilling Her Father’s Dream
In a full-circle moment of legacy and service, Queen Camilla became Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers—her father’s regiment—following the coronation. In 2023, she told veteran Michael de Burgh, 99: “My father just longed for me to be associated with this regiment — and here I am.”
Through this deeply personal tribute, Queen Camilla not only honoured her father’s memory, but also paid homage to the courage and unity of a generation that refused to surrender.
