Overview

• The Prince of Wales expressed admiration for Major Peter Norton, a triple-amputee veteran injured in Iraq, during a Windsor Castle reception honoring Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients.
• Major Norton, who lost multiple limbs in 2005 while checking for an IED near Baghdad, emphasized his lack of bitterness and highlighted advancements in medical care since his injury.
• Other honorees included Colour Sergeant Johnson Beharry and Keith Payne, both Victoria Cross recipients recognized for extraordinary acts of bravery in Iraq and Vietnam, respectively.
• The event also featured a ceremonial planting of a Swedish oak tree by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Swedish royal family to mark the coronation and strengthen UK–Sweden relations.
• The Swedish oak planted in Windsor is twinned with another to be planted by Crown Princess Victoria in Stockholm, symbolizing enduring diplomatic and royal connections.