A royal hello for cadet

Number 2496 Cumbernauld Squadron Air Cadets were at the show with their mobile flight simulator, and were surprised and delighted to receive an invitation for one cadet to be presented to the Princess Royal, Princess Anne.

And the man chosen for the by-royal-appointment meeting was Cadet Flight Sergeant Curtis Blue, who is also this year’s Lord Lieutenant’s cadet for Dunbartonshire.

During his memorable tete-a-tete with the Princess, who is famous for her open and direct style of chat, she asked him pertinent questions about his cadet career - and also shared a joke with him.

Curtis, 19, said: “This is my last year as an air cadet and It was an honour to meet Princess Anne, who was very interested to hear about what I have done during my time in the Air Cadets.”

He added: “She also said that we looked very smart and would like to have attempted some of the things I had done if only she was young again.

“She is very nice to talk to and I was very proud to meet her”.