Yaounde: Cameroonian soldiers decorated with King Charles III’s Coronation Medals.

The military personnel, including three women and eight men, received the Coronation Medals during an official ceremony held at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Yaounde. 

The ceremony took place Wednesday September 4. It was chaired by the United Kingdom, UK High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E Barry Lowen. 

The medals were handed to the military officers in the presence of the Secretary General at the Ministry of Defence, Saïd Kamsouloum. 

Speaking during the ceremony, Ambassador Lowen said the tradition of Coronation Medal dates back to the reign of King James I. He told attendees that the first medal was awarded in 1603.

Turning to awardees, the diplomat explained that they were being awarded for their excellent service rendered during the coronation ceremony of King Charles III last May 2023.

He then pointed out that the ceremony encapsulates the wider partnership between the UK and Cameroon within the Common Wealth family. 

“I want to thank Cameroon and the Cameroonian Armed Forces for their participation in the coronation ceremony just over a year ago,” the UK High Commissioner said.

He continued that: “There were some 40 nations that participated in the coronation and it’s been a real personal honour tonight to present the medals to members of the contingent. I salute their commitment and their professionalism”. 

The Cameroonian contingent to the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, it should be said, was made up of military personnel from the National Gendarmerie, Army, Airforce and Navy. 

The uniform officers were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Foming Rodrigue Boris.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Lieutenant-Colonel Foming said the medals received were acknowledgments from the UK to the Cameroonian personnel who participated at the event. 

“It is a way of strengthening the cooperation ties between Cameroon on one hand and between Cameroon and the Commonwealth countries on the other hand,” he stated. 

The senior military officer then used the ceremony to express the gratitude of the team to King Charles III and to President of the Republic who dispatched the mission. 

“I would like to thank the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Beti Assomo, who granted us the means to contribute to the success of this historical mission” Lieutenant-Colonel Foming averred. 

It should be recalled that King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, ascended the British throne on May 6, 2023, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II had succeeded her father, King George VI’s in 1952.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3221 of Friday September 6, 2024