Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited troops at their base in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan on Monday 1 March.

Princess Anne met with soldiers and officers of The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, The Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, 1 Battalion Coldstream Guards, The Household Cavalry Regiment, 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital and staff of the Joint Force Support Headquarters.

Accompanied by Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence, the princess spoke with dog handlers of The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and met the working dogs. She spoke with officers and soldiers of the Queen's Own Gurkha  Logistic Regiment, who received her with a traditional battle display.

Soldiers and officers of 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, Coldstream Guards and Household Cavalry Regiment each explained the role of their units in Afghanistan and showed examples of the equipment currently in use.

She later met with staff and patients of Camp Bastion Field Hospital.

The visit was the first of a two day programme of visits to troops currently on operations. Speaking after the visit, Captain Jo Barr, Adjutant of Bastion Joint Operating Base said:

"This visit has been great morale boost for the troops. They see that dignitaries like the Princess Royal are genuinely interested in what we do out here."

Corporal Edward Kingsland, Dog Handler, Royal Army Veterinary Corps said: "The importance of today's visit cannot be underestimated. The Princess Royal has taken a real interest in our work and experiences. I am personally delighted that the dog unit is getting the recognition it deserves. It will be the same for all of those units who don't necessarily make it into the headlines."