RUBBING shoulders with royalty from two countries made a military ceremony a day to remember for war hero James Baron.

The Queen was personally introduced to the former tank commander at the changing of the battle honour flags of the Irish Guards.

And Mr Baron, 82, also spoke to the Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg at the prestigious occasion at Windsor Castle.

Mr Baron, of Hanson Street, Great Harwood, served with the Irish Guards during the Second World War, receiving the Military Medal on his first day in action in Normandy.

The gun on his tank failed and, in an act of great courage and daring, he rammed a German tank to disable it.

He was one of 700 past and present members of the regiment to attend the ceremony, which occurs every 50 years.

The Queen blessed the new flags before they were taken to the Irish Guards headquarters in Birdcage Walk. Mr Baron said: "The whole day was absolutely perfect.

"After the ceremony the Queen came and spoke to senior officers and several other people.

"I was with my friend John Gorman, who used to be her equerry, and she stopped to talk to him.

"All of a sudden he introduced me, telling the Queen my name and saying I was the only man who had ever crashed into a German tank.

"She said it must have been a frightful experience and asked if I was terrified. I was a little bit stuck for words.

"It was a real surprise and such an honour for me to be spoken to by Her Majesty. I never expected it."

Mr Baron was later introduced to the Duke of Luxembourg, himself a former officer in the Irish Guards, who attended the ceremony and the garden party afterwards.

Mr Baron said: "It was a very moving occasion and one of the best days I have ever known."

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