Princess visits loved ones of soldiers on overseas duty

IT WAS a day of both celebration and sadness as Princess Alexandra arrived at the Capital's Redford army barracks.

On official business, as Royal Colonel of 3 Rifles, she opened a new welfare centre for use by the families of those soldiers serving overseas yesterday.

But the princess also took the opportunity to meet in private with the wives and partners of those soldiers who will never return from their tour of Afghanistan, speaking with them about their tragic losses for at least an hour.

Major Chris Willis said: "All the wives are doing a sterling job of coping in extremely demanding circumstances and I take my hat off to them."

Princess Alexandra arrived by car at the barracks just after 1pm to a bugle call, thanking each soldier in turn before heading into the officers' mess to meet the group of widows – some with young children – who waited inside.

Dressed in rifle green, she wore a long woollen coat and black lace-up boots, along with a wide-brimmed green hat and checked beige scarf.

She was later met at the door to the new welfare centre – Sharpe's Retreat – by nine-year-old Thomas Kitson, whose father, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, is on tour in Afghanistan.

Thomas handed the princess a pair of scissors with which to cut an official opening ribbon.

But the princess insisted on giving the boy a coin for good luck in return, receiving 1 from her assistant to do so, and then asking Thomas what he was going to do with the money.

She said: "You'll put it in your piggy bank? Oh, that's excellent. Well done."

Inside the princess viewed the centre's facilities, which include an outdoor play area, social rooms for families, toys for children, a kitchen and a television and internet room.

The centre was formerly used as office space and was transformed in September in just one week, with many companies – including John Lewis, Asda and B&M Bargains – making generous donations.

As she spoke with officers, other wives told of their longing for their husbands to return home in good health.

Alana Millard, 26, who is married to Lance Corporal Timothy Millard, said: "It's very hard for us – we just wish we could wake up and have them home.

"Being around other people here at the centre always helps, though – they're always on our minds."

After a two-hour visit, Princess Alexandra bid farewell to the soldiers and relatives at Redford, telling one widow, Ellen Scott, that she was glad she "had such a strong family" around her.

Mrs Scott's husband, Serjeant Phillip Scott, 30, was killed in November by an improvised explosive device near Sangin.

His three-year-old daughter, Ellie, dressed for the occasion in a princess-style frock, presented the princess with a posy of flowers.

The princess removed one of the red flowers and handed it back to the young girl to hang on to as a memento.