Patrick Palmer

General Sir Charles Patrick Ralph Palmer, (29 April 1933 – 23 November 1999) was a senior British Army officer. He served as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Northern Europe from 1989 to 1992 and Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 1992 to 1999.

Military career Educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Palmer was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1953. He went on to serve in British Guiana, Suez and Cyprus.

In 1980 Palmer was given command of the British Army Advisory Training Team in Zimbabwe, advising President Robert Mugabe. In 1988 he took the Grand Day general salute at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover.

From 1982 to 1992 Palmer was also Colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Later life Palmer was the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 1992 to 1999. After the great fire in 1992 he co-ordinated much of the re-building work. He retired from this position due to ill health in 1999 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Sir Richard Johns. Before his retirement he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 13 August 1999.

Family In 1960 Palmer married Sonia Wigglesworth; they had one son. Following the death of his first wife, he married Joanna Baines in 1966; they had two daughters.