The last week has been a big one for Duntroon's Royal Military College Band and the Federation Guard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Both organisations have been called on to deliver much of the pomp and circumstance expected when the Royals come calling.
Yesterday was no exception with two members of the RMC band playing prominent parts during the Queen and Prince Philip's visit to the Australian War Memorial.
Corporal Luke Glasson, a trumpeter and bugler who took part in Saturday's centenary colours parade at Duntroon, played the Last Post after the Queen layed a wreath of red carnations on behalf of herself and the Duke.
Warrant Officer Simon Renfrey, the RMC band's band sergeant major, delivered the drum roll that announced the royal party's arrival.
Corporal Glasson, who had last seen the Queen during her visit to Hobart when he was six or seven, is now 33 with an 18-month old toddler, Caleb, of his own.
Caleb saw the Queen for the first time when he attended the Duntroon parade to watch his father at work on Saturday.
Corporal Glasson said the opportunity to play in front of the Queen was very special.
"We put a lot of work into it.''
Corporal Benjamin Barnard, the commander of the Federation Guard contingent that provided the catafalque party for the tomb of the unknown soldier yesterday, said the occasion had been special.
"I will remember today forever,'' he said.
It was not the most personally moving ceremony he had taken part in however.
That distinction is reserved for the Remembrance Day services at the memorial where the list of Afghan war dead is updated each year.
There are currently 21 names on the roll. Another eight will be unveiled in just under two weeks time.
"While you never forget the past this service, which involves people of your own generation, is very close to home,'' he said.
"The Remembrance Day service shows the Australian Defence Force and the people of Australia are making an effort to acknowledge and understand the sacrifice.''
Corporal Barnard said the presence of the families and friends of the soldiers who had died at the November 11 services added to the emotion of the occasion.
The other members of the Federation Guard contingent yesterday were catafalque party members Leading Aircraft Woman Rebecca Thompson (RAAF), Leading Aircraft Man Rhys Ryan (RAAF), Able Seaman Lindsay Cozyn (Royal Australian Navy) and Private Dylan Pardon (Army).
All four were armed with M16 rifles fitted with ceremonial chrome plated magazines.
Leading Aircraftman Adrian Bada was the member in waiting and the drummer was Able Seaman Luke Cunningham.
A Canberra police officer, who cannot be named but has attended almost every royal function in the city since last Wednesday, said the visit had run very smoothly.
"If that incident in Brisbane (where a man mooned the royal procession) is the worst that happens then it is a good result,'' he said.
There had been no issues with crowd control to speak of.
Yesterday's visit to the AWM was the Queen's last official event in Canberra.
She and Prince Philip fly to Melbourne today before travelling on to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.