DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISITS RETURNING TROOPS

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WAS DETERMINED NOT TO LET HER TROOPS DOWN, NO MATTER WHAT OT TOOK TO HONOR OUR HEROES RETURNING FROM AFGHANISTAN. SO WHEN SHE WAS ASKED RECENTLY TO PRESENT CAMPAIGN MEDALS TO HOMECOMING SOLDIERS SHE TOOK MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS, AND HIRED A EYE-CATCHING RED MOBILITY SCOOTER FOR THE OCCASION. IN FACT CAMILLA, WHO IS STILL ON THE MEND AFTER SUFFERING A FRACTURE TO HER LEG, TOOK EVERY MODE OF TRANSPORT AVAILABLE TO HER. SHE ARRIVED AT BULFORD CAMP IN SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, BY OFFICIAL CAR BEFORE HOPPING INTO A WHEELCHAIR PUSHED BY A ROYAL AIDE WHO NEGOTIATED HER UP A TRICKY RAMP AND ONTO A STAND IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE PACKED PARADE GROUND. SHE THEN USED A PAIR OF CRUTCHES TO HELP GET TO HER FEET FOR THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO HER 'SCOOTER' TO TRAVERSE THE ROWS OF BRAVE SOLDIERS FROM A COMPANY 4th BATTALION THE RIFLES. ACCORDING TO AN AIDE, CAMILLA IS RECUPERATING WELL FROM HER ACCIDENT BUT DECIDED TO PRIVATELY HIRE THE SCOOTER IN ORDER TO HELP HER GET AROUND MORE EASILY AND HAS BEEN PRACTICING ON IT AT RAYMILL, HER PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN WILTSHIRE. 'SHE FELT THE SCOOTER WOULD ENABLE HER TO GET AROUND AND MEET SOLDIERS AND ALSO HELP HER TO TALK TO THEM AS IT POSITIONS HER A LOT HIGHER THAN HER WHEELCHAIR DOES', THEY SAID. THE DUCHESS IS ROYAL COLONIAL OF 4th RIFLES AND TAKES HER DUTIES EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. THE REGIMENT HAS BEEN IN AFGHANISTAN SINCE MAY LAST YEAR AND ONLY RETURNED TO BRITAIN LAST WEEKEND WITH A LOSS OF SIX SOLDIERS, THE AVERAGE AGE OF WHICH WAS JUST 20. AS SHE MANEUVERED HER WAY AROUND THE TROOPS, CAMILLA WAS MOVED TO TEARS BY SOME OF THE STORIES THAT SHE HEARD. IN HER ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES, CAMILLA SPOKE OF HER 'PRIDE AND ADMIRATION' AT THE REGIMENT'S 'BRAVERY, LOYALTY AND DEDICATION TO DUTY' AND PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAD 'PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE'. 'IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE, ADMIRATION AND A REAL SENSE OF RELIEF THAT I ADDRESS YOU TODAY. WE OWE ALL OF YOU, AND YOUR FAMILIES, A DEBT OF GRATITUDE', SHE SAID.