AN ANDOVER solider who is part of a group called The Soldiers’ which has seen its new jubilee single shoot to number one.

The groups song called Her Majesty The Queen - Platinum Jubilee Tribute Song 2022 has sensationally shot to No. 1 in the iTunes Classical Chart.

Andover solider Captain Gary Chiltern, Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi and Warrant Officer Richie Maddocks have notched up 70 years of combined service in locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Basra.

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They are releasing a new single to show their gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II, and profits from sales will be going to charities supported by the Royal Family.

Captain Gary Chilton said: “Once we heard the song and saw the lyrics, we knew we wanted this to be our part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.”

The track has been produced by multi award-winning producer Nick Patrick. Nick has had 6 #1 UK albums, 1 #1 UK single, 13 Top 5 Albums and a total of 17 Top 10 Albums in the last 6 years. He has been nominated for 3 GRAMMY™️ awards and has won 8 Album of the Year Classic BRIT Awards.

His recent projects have included: Johnny Cash, Dame Shirley Bassey, Bob Marley, Elvis Presley “If I Can Dream” and “The Wonder of You”, Roy Orbison, The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, Placido Domingo, Sting, Seal, Ball and Boe (3 x UK #1 Albums), Il Divo, and The Gypsy King.

Captain Chilton enlisted into the Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps in 1984. He has since served in The Band of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, OP GRANBY, The Band of the Dragoon Guards and The Kings Division Waterloo Band.

The song charted above such distinguished performers as Ed Sheeran, Katherine Jenkins, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and even the National Anthem.

Reformed especially for their touching tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, this is an achievement that The Soldiers can be truly proud of.

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They became the first ever group of serving British servicemen to top the pop charts, with their 2009 debut album Coming Home reaching the Top 5 - outselling Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson! It remained on the charts for some 3 months, eventually receiving double-platinum status.

They then took a 10 year break, and reformed especially to record their heart-felt tribute to the Queen.

The group have so far raised over £400,000 for a range of different Army charities.

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