Princess Anne's surprise visit

Mar 2, 2010, 13:42 GMT

Britain's Princess Anne made a surprise visit to British troops in Afghanistan yesterday (01.03.10).

The Princess Royal met soldiers from a number of units as she spent time in Camp Bastion, which is the forces' main base, although details of her visit were not revealed until she had left the country to make sure the troops weren't at greater risk from opportunistic insurgents.

Anne - who landed in the war-torn country on Sunday (28.02.10) - was greeted by soldiers and officers of the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment with a traditional battle display.

As well as meeting servicemen from 9 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps and the Household Cavalry Regiment, Anne - who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps - also toured the British field hospital and spoke to handlers at the Theatre Military Working Dogs Support Unit.

Corporal Edward Kingsland, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "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."