His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Royal Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, presented Afghanistan service medals to members of 1st Regiment Army Air Corps (1 Regt AAC) on Monday 26 July.

Prince Charles also presented eight Long Service and Good Conduct (LSGC) medals to soldiers in recognition of their long service and exemplary conduct, as well as an Accumulated Campaign Service medal.

1 Regt AAC operated the Mark 7 Lynx helicopter during their tour in Afghanistan between September 2009 and March 2010.

In his speech to nearly 200 soldiers on parade, Prince Charles said: "This is an opportunity to congratulate all those who have earned their Afghan Campaign medals and to express my thanks and greatest possible appreciation for what you do."

Prince Charles, whose son Prince Harry is training to pilot an Apache helicopter with the Army Air Corps, also paid tribute to his soldiers' families. Turning to face them he said: "I would also like to thank all the families who provide extraordinary support while their loved ones are overseas."

Addressing the soldiers on parade again he continued: "I'm enormously proud to be your Colonel in Chief and to be an Army Air Corps father. I am happy to hear about the Air Corps from Harry who even as I speak is struggling with his own Apache training. I wish you every success for your upcoming deployment; you are all an enormous credit to the country with your selfless service with endless good humour and professionalism."

The Commanding Officer of 1 Regt AAC, Lieutenant Colonel James Anderson, said: "We are delighted that His Royal Highness Prince Charles could be here today - it's a real reward for the soldiers and really means something to them to be presented with their medals by our Colonel in Chief."

"Our focus now moves back on to preparing for our next operational deployment", he concluded.