‘Before the siege very few people had heard of the SAS. Now the whole world wanted to know us. Instead of getting straight back to training, as we should have, we were turned into a performing circus, demonstrating our techniques to any interested member of the royal family and their corgis. Our standards dropped appallingly until the next squadron took over; then we could rest on our laurels no longer.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana were amongst the royals who attended the demonstrations. Subsequently they were asked whether they would like to participate in an assault by driving the Range Rovers up to the practice building, which was custom-made for assault training. The drill was for the drivers to stop their vehicles close enough to the building for the ladders fixed on top to be slammed against the wall, enabling the troops to enter quickly on the first floor.