This was back in Aug. '83 during the Regimental Centennial celebrations. Naturally, as Col.-In-Chief, H.R.H. Prince Phillip was on hand for the Trooping of the Colours and all the other parades that were going on at CFB London at the time. After one parade on the base, there was a meet-and-greet set up in tents in front of the officer's mess, one Coy. per tent, and a tent for the band (where the beer was.) ;D
As Prince Phillip approached the beer band tent, we formed up, were brought up to the chow, and H.R.H. began moving down the front rank, shaking hands and, well, being the Prince.
My contribution to the occasion was entirely forgettable, (I stammered "Five years, Sir!" in response to his question to me,) and then he moved on to the man at my left.
On my left was Cpl. Brendan, er .. O'Bloggins. Born in Northern Ireland, O'Bloggins had a certain attitude towards anything even remotely English.
So the Prince, oblivious to this, asked the next question on his "innocuous questions to ask while meeting troops" list, which was:
H.R.H.: > "And where are you from, Corporal?"
O'Bloggins: > (Kind of takes a breath while his right eye goes all sort of squinty, and says in a thick brogue.) "Belfast, Sir!"
H.R.H.: > Without missing a beat, the Prince replies: "Well, next time you go home, you had better wear your iron knickers."
Not entirely charmed, O'Bloggins replies, "Aye." (pause) "... and you too, Sir."
H.R.H.: > " ..... "