The streets of Woolwich were filled with pride, applause and regimental spirit as soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) marched home following a successful two-year deployment to Cyprus.
Families, veterans, civic leaders and members of the local community gathered on 24 September to celebrate the Battalion's return during a full day of celebration and welcome. The day included a Homecoming Parade, welcome speeches from The Mayor and local MPs, and a fun for all Families' Day.
The Colour Party marches off from Woolwich Town Hall, followed by the soldiers of PWRR as the homecoming parade continues through the streets of Woolwich.
The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR) band leads the march towards Woolwich Town Hall, marking a memorable homecoming parade.
Councillor David Gardner, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, engages with soldiers during the PWRR homecoming parade.
Warrant Officer Class 1 Johnson Beharry VC, COG, shares a moment of camaraderie with soldiers during the PWRR homecoming parade.
The event marked the Battalion's return from its role as the Cyprus Resident Infantry Battalion, the British Army's "on-call" rapid reaction force for the entire Middle East and North Africa. Based permanently at the strategic crossroads of Cyprus, their main job was to stay at high readiness so they can fly out at a moment's notice to secure British bases, help in humanitarian crises, or evacuate British citizens from nearby conflict zones.
Because they were already stationed in the Mediterranean, they don't lose time traveling from the UK, allowing them to rapidly deploy for intense training exercises, like Exercise Olive Grove in Jordan, and secure vital global trade and military routes.
Marching home to cheers and regimental tunes
The returning soldiers were led through the streets of Woolwich by regimental colours and accompanied by the unmistakable sound of military music from The Band of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. They received a warm welcome from the community with which the Regiment has long shared close ties.
The Commanding Officer of 1 PWRR, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Alex Cherry said: "1 PWRR is home at last. After two years of service in Cyprus, the Battalion returns to Woolwich; to its families, its community, and the city it calls home.
“This parade is a celebration for everyone; a parade of dedication, of belonging, and of the unique bond between a regiment and its people."
Frontline force tested to the max
It’s been a busy two years for the soldiers. The Tigers helped evacuate Royal Air Force Akrotiri after a drone strike and responded to an earthquake during their posting in Cyprus. But over the course of its deployment, these were just two of multiple operational commitments across the region, including deployments to Bahrain and participation in Exercise Olive Grove in Jordan.
There, working alongside the Jordanian Armed Forces’ Khalid bin Al-Waleed Brigade / 15, the "Tigers" from B and C Companies successfully integrated cutting-edge modern battlefield technology with demanding desert warfare tactics.
During the intensive training, 1PWRR troops deployed advanced Uncrewed Aerial Systems to combat drone threats and tested Electronic Dismounted Situational Awareness systems to feed live data from chest-mounted screens directly to headquarters so senior staff could “experience” what was happening in real time and practise vital decision making.
Timely training meant success when it mattered most
The soldiers practiced sneaking undetected through tough desert terrain, storming mock towns, and clearing out enemy trenches. By using these new technological tools and working together, in harsh environments, the British and Jordanian soldiers became an unstoppable team, making sure they are ready to help keep the world safe.
The exercise took place at a critical time and reinforced the UK's vital defence partnership with Jordan, a key partner in the increasingly unstable Middle East region.
Alongside its operational responsibilities, soldiers undertook adventurous training expeditions and battlefield studies, continually developing the skills and resilience for which the regiment is renowned.
Tigers: Trusted to deliver
Whether supporting security tasks overseas, training alongside allies or preparing for future challenges, 1 PWRR demonstrated the adaptability, professionalism and fighting spirit that have characterised the Regiment throughout its history.
For many spectators, the parade was not only a celebration of a homecoming but also a chance to reconnect with one of the Army's most distinguished infantry regiments. Known affectionately as "The Tigers", The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment traces its heritage through some of the British Army's most famous county regiments, including the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment. The Regiment's history stretches back centuries and is marked by service in conflicts across the globe.
Today, that legacy remains alive in a regiment deeply rooted in London and the South East. From Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, Middlesex, The Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, to its enduring presence in Woolwich, the Regiment continues to draw strength from the communities it serves and represents.
Why we serve
The homecoming event highlighted not only the achievements of the Battalion overseas but also the enduring partnership between the Army and the communities that support it.
Lt Col Cherry summarised an historic day: "Today was an incredibly moving experience for everyone in the regiment. Seeing the streets of Woolwich packed with people cheering us on reminds us exactly why we serve. We are profoundly grateful to the community for such a warm and memorable homecoming.
"Our service in Cyprus demanded professionalism, resilience and constant readiness, and our people delivered that day after day. Returning to Woolwich and marching past the community that has supported this regiment since 2010 was a fitting way to mark the end of a successful deployment and to celebrate all that has been achieved”.
As the parade concluded and families reunited, the atmosphere reflected a simple but powerful message: after two years away, The Tigers were home.
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