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The Prince of Wales visits Afghanistan

25th March 2010

The Prince of Wales has made a surprise trip to Afghanistan – becoming the most senior royal to visit British troops on the frontline - and said he was "incredibly proud" of our Armed Forces.

The Prince, a Commander-in-Chief of 10 UK regiments, and 10 Commonwealth regiments, spent the night with soldiers at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, after visiting Kabul.

The Prince was very pleased to have spent time with troops, having been keen to make the trip for several years.

During the two-day tour, The Prince visited bases in Nad-e-Ali, where much of the UK's effort was based during Operation Moshtarak, and Lashkar Gah.

After being told of the progress troops were making, The Prince left a wreath paying tribute to fallen soldiers at Camp Bastion. He was also shown mine clearance equipment used by British troops.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "The Prince of Wales has wanted to go to Afghanistan for several years and was very keen to see for himself the Armed Forces and allied members.

"He was also keen to see civilian involvement in regeneration projects and to thank them for their incredible efforts.  The Prince was very pleased to have finally been able to make the visit."

During his two-day visit to Afghanistan, The Prince of Wales also met with representatives of serving Canadian, New Zealand and Australian forces.  His Royal Highness also met with the Canadian Ambassador.

In addition, The Prince met several Afghanistan government ministers as well as tribal and religious leaders to "gain their perspective on reintroducing stability", the Clarence House spokesman added.

During a briefing from troops, Brigadier James Cowan, Commander of Task Force Helmand Black Watch, told The Prince the troops were winning the trust of locals.

He said: "We have greatly reduced the use of lethal force through courageous restraint which requires our soldiers to be much more courageous, to put themselves in harm's way.

"As a result, we see many people coming over to our side and starting to trust us."

The Prince spoke to President Hamid Karzai before flying in but they were unable to meet during the visit as the President is overseas, but they did meet recently in January 2010 at Clarence House.

After visiting Kabul, The Prince flew by helicopter to Patrol Base Pimon, in Nad-e-Ali, where he was met by Officer Commanding Right Flank Scots Guards, Major Ian Lindsay-German.

Major Lindsay-German told The Prince: "We have seen a very, very steep drop in violence to the point where we are getting some signs of Taliban who want to come in."

The Prince later attended a brief memorial at Camp Bastion, where he laid a wreath of paper poppies and white carnations in honour of the fallen.

During the visit, The Prince said he felt "incredibly proud of what they do out here".

He also paid tribute to the role played by relatives of soldiers at home, adding: "The families are the most wonderful support to their loved ones - that is what they do so magnificently."

It comes more than two years after his son, Prince Harry, returned from frontline duty.

The Prince also met General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and Nato troops, and Afghan District Governor Gulab Mangal.

His Royal Highness flew into the Afghan National Army brigade camp of Shorabak in an RAF Chinook, close to Camp Bastion, where he was greeted by an Afghan guard of honour before speaking with Afghan troops and their British mentors from 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment.

The Afghan and British soldiers gave a demonstration of instructional and training techniques, including identification of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

He later flew to Camp Bastion where he spoke with staff from the UK Joint Force Medical Group, and the Joint Force EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams.

The Prince previously spoke of the "difficulties" he faced as Prince Harry, serving with the Household Cavalry Regiment, spent 10 weeks in Afghanistan before being flown home in February 2008 amid fears for his safety after the deployment was reported in foreign media.

A total of 276 British troops have died in the Afghan conflict since operations began in 2001.

The Prince added: "As a parent, you worry the whole time. I think, if you are out here, you are getting on with everything and it's not the same. But for everyone left behind it's ghastly.

"But having said that, the families are the most wonderful support to their loved ones."

He said Britain was "very lucky" to have so many families with generations of soldiers.

Comrades on the front line welcomed the morale-boosting visit.

Sergeant Major Guy Harris, of 2 Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), said: "I think it is good for the guys who have been on the ground for a full six months.

"It's good that they know there are people who are interested in what they are doing. It is like the welfare parcels they get from back home."

He also visited Turquoise Mountain regeneration and traditional craft projects during his visit to Kabul.

The Prince, who wore combat gear throughout his time with soldiers and ate at the troops' canteen, said that he wanted to get out to Afghanistan to say "thank you, well done".

He added: "All that effort and all these different projects is quite remarkable. And trying to build capacity on a stabilisation basis.

"All those people are really quite extraordinary, I think, and how much dedication and effort they put into it.

"So I just wanted to come and say 'Thank you, well done'."