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| Prince William sends message from tank near Russian border on Estonia trip | Prince William sends message from tank near Russian border on Estonia trip |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Watch: Prince William rides in tank during Estonia visit | |
| If royal visits are about sending a message, then the picture of the Prince of Wales in a tank near the Russian border must be one of the most direct. | If royal visits are about sending a message, then the picture of the Prince of Wales in a tank near the Russian border must be one of the most direct. |
| Prince William has come to Estonia to support UK troops in what is now the British Army's biggest operational deployment overseas, defending the Baltic state from the threat of Russia. | Prince William has come to Estonia to support UK troops in what is now the British Army's biggest operational deployment overseas, defending the Baltic state from the threat of Russia. |
| On Friday, in a freezing cold, mud-churned military training area, the prince saw the soldiers and military equipment guarding Nato's eastern flank. | On Friday, in a freezing cold, mud-churned military training area, the prince saw the soldiers and military equipment guarding Nato's eastern flank. |
| The prince, in camouflage uniform, peering from a Challenger 2 tank and then an armoured fighting vehicle, was sending a signal about the UK's commitment to deter any aggression from Russia. | The prince, in camouflage uniform, peering from a Challenger 2 tank and then an armoured fighting vehicle, was sending a signal about the UK's commitment to deter any aggression from Russia. |
| The Prince of Wales took his seat in a Challenger 2 tank during a visit to Tapa Camp | |
| During his two-day trip to Estonia, Prince William visited some of the 900 British troops in this multinational force, including soldiers of the Mercian regiment of which the prince is colonel-in-chief. | During his two-day trip to Estonia, Prince William visited some of the 900 British troops in this multinational force, including soldiers of the Mercian regiment of which the prince is colonel-in-chief. |
| He was given a tour of the military training grounds at Tapa Camp - part of Operation Cabrit which is the UK's contribution to secure Nato's "collective security and defence" in this vulnerable Baltic region. | He was given a tour of the military training grounds at Tapa Camp - part of Operation Cabrit which is the UK's contribution to secure Nato's "collective security and defence" in this vulnerable Baltic region. |
| The prince, who was wearing a Nato badge on his uniform, was shown field training for this battlegroup, meeting Estonian and French troops too. | The prince, who was wearing a Nato badge on his uniform, was shown field training for this battlegroup, meeting Estonian and French troops too. |
| He asked soldiers about their deployment in terms of the "context of being so near to Russia" and wondered whether this felt more real than previous training. | He asked soldiers about their deployment in terms of the "context of being so near to Russia" and wondered whether this felt more real than previous training. |
| This is what deterrence to Russia looks like on the ground - and the base shows how much the balance of power can shift. | This is what deterrence to Russia looks like on the ground - and the base shows how much the balance of power can shift. |
| The prince was on board a Warrior tracked armoured vehicle during field training | The prince was on board a Warrior tracked armoured vehicle during field training |
| Before Estonia regained its independence in 1991, this had been a base for Soviet air defences, with MIG fighter planes poised to take on the West. | Before Estonia regained its independence in 1991, this had been a base for Soviet air defences, with MIG fighter planes poised to take on the West. |
| Now the positions are reversed, with Estonian troops and their Nato allies located here to prevent a Russian incursion. | Now the positions are reversed, with Estonian troops and their Nato allies located here to prevent a Russian incursion. |
| The strategically-important army base has been expanding, with the icy streets lined with military vehicles. | The strategically-important army base has been expanding, with the icy streets lined with military vehicles. |
| As well as riding in a Challenger 2 tank, the prince saw a Warrior armoured vehicle, a French Griffon fighting vehicle, a multiple launch rocket system, a Trojan vehicle for clearing obstacles and he drove an Archer mobile artillery system. | As well as riding in a Challenger 2 tank, the prince saw a Warrior armoured vehicle, a French Griffon fighting vehicle, a multiple launch rocket system, a Trojan vehicle for clearing obstacles and he drove an Archer mobile artillery system. |
| Prince William was given a warm welcome by local people in Tallinn | Prince William was given a warm welcome by local people in Tallinn |
| The war in Ukraine has shown how fast the technology of combat is changing and on Thursday the prince saw a hydrogen-powered drone, on a visit to designers in Estonia's capital Tallinn. | The war in Ukraine has shown how fast the technology of combat is changing and on Thursday the prince saw a hydrogen-powered drone, on a visit to designers in Estonia's capital Tallinn. |
| At the Tapa army base he asked soldiers about the new "drone threat" facing modern armies and "the change of tactics" that would require. | At the Tapa army base he asked soldiers about the new "drone threat" facing modern armies and "the change of tactics" that would require. |
| Around the base there were warning signs saying: "Report drone sightings." | Around the base there were warning signs saying: "Report drone sightings." |
| The visit also focused on the wellbeing of service men and women who are posted here. Prince William asked whether there was still a stigma when it comes to talking about mental health problems in the armed forces. "It's going in the right direction," welfare officer Amy-Jane Hale replied. | The visit also focused on the wellbeing of service men and women who are posted here. Prince William asked whether there was still a stigma when it comes to talking about mental health problems in the armed forces. "It's going in the right direction," welfare officer Amy-Jane Hale replied. |
| While touring the facilities, the prince managed to try his hand at pool and table football. That quickly became a game between his team Aston Villa and a supporter of their rivals Birmingham City. | While touring the facilities, the prince managed to try his hand at pool and table football. That quickly became a game between his team Aston Villa and a supporter of their rivals Birmingham City. |
| On Thursday, hundreds of local Estonians waited in the cold to meet the prince in Tallinn, lining the railings to shake his hand or to take a selfie. He was warmly welcomed to this small, tech-savvy country, which increasingly relies upon its allies. | On Thursday, hundreds of local Estonians waited in the cold to meet the prince in Tallinn, lining the railings to shake his hand or to take a selfie. He was warmly welcomed to this small, tech-savvy country, which increasingly relies upon its allies. |
| Estonia has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, sharing a border with Russia and having been under Soviet rule in the past. All around the capital there are Ukrainian flags flying alongside the Estonian blue, black and white tricolour. | Estonia has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, sharing a border with Russia and having been under Soviet rule in the past. All around the capital there are Ukrainian flags flying alongside the Estonian blue, black and white tricolour. |
| Many Ukrainian families have taken refuge in Estonia. During a visit to a school in Tallinn for Ukrainian child refugees, Prince William praised Ukraine's strength. | Many Ukrainian families have taken refuge in Estonia. During a visit to a school in Tallinn for Ukrainian child refugees, Prince William praised Ukraine's strength. |
| "The Ukrainian resilience is everywhere," Prince William told the students. "You have a very good spirit, very good souls, it's very important." | "The Ukrainian resilience is everywhere," Prince William told the students. "You have a very good spirit, very good souls, it's very important." |