“Proposing at Palace as daunting as saving comrade in Taleban firefight’

Private Bryan Johnson, 24, went down on one knee and asked partner Kirstie Ward, 21, to marry him – popping a ring on her finger when she replied: “Yes.”

Just moments before, the Prince of Wales had awarded the soldier from 5 Scots, or the Argylls, Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Military Cross for showing selfless courage when he dragged his comrade away from a firefight and gave him life-saving first aid.

Yesterday he appeared more nervous about proposing than meeting royalty.

After the ceremony, he said: “I knew I was going to do it, but when I went to do it I luckily managed to get up enough confidence.

“I dropped to my knee and fortunately for my sake, to save embarrassment, she said yes.”

Ms Ward, from Newcastle upon Tyne, said: “It was a real surprise, I’m very shocked and excited. We’ve known each other for three years but have only been going out since July.”

Asked about her intended’s bravery in Afghanistan she said: “He’s just amazing.”

Pte Johnson revealed that the location for the proposal – the Queen’s London home – was not what prompted him, more the mood.

He received the award for helping a colleague when their patrol was ambushed by the Taleban in October last year. They came under rifle and grenade fire.

Pte Johnson stormed a nearby compound where the firing had come from with other members of his patrol and, when a comrade was shot and collapsed, he dragged him out of danger in the heat of battle. He then gave him vital first aid and laid down fire so colleagues could remove the wounded man. Pte Johnson added: “Adrenalin takes over, but it’s the same anywhere, one of your friends gets hurt and you’ll do what you can to help them.

“I never even thought twice, I just ran forward and got him and we acted like a team to get him home safe and sound.

“You fear for your safety every day out there but when you’re working with a good bunch of guys you can pull through it.”