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| Prince presents medals to Guards | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Prince of Wales is presenting medals to Welsh Guards who fought in Afghanistan during a tour which saw seven of their colleagues killed. | |
| Prince Charles, colonel-in-chief of the Welsh Guards, inspected a parade of 400 officers and guardsmen at the regiment's Aldershot, Hampshire, base. | |
| Some 800 friends and family of the soldiers were at the ceremony. | |
| The 1st Battalion's losses during six months' duty in Helmand province included its commanding officer. | |
| Prince Charles's visit is with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and they are also meeting families at a reception afterwards. | Prince Charles's visit is with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and they are also meeting families at a reception afterwards. |
| The prince was a friend of the regiment's commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe MBE, 39, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand province in July. | |
| Lt Col Thorneloe had been part of a resupply convoy heading towards troops engaged in hostile territory when he was killed. | Lt Col Thorneloe had been part of a resupply convoy heading towards troops engaged in hostile territory when he was killed. |
| Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who died in Helmand, was a friend of the prince | Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who died in Helmand, was a friend of the prince |
| An 18-year-old trooper from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment died in the same explosion. | An 18-year-old trooper from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment died in the same explosion. |
| The prince attended the funeral of Lt Col Thorneloe, the most senior British officer to be killed in action in Afghanistan. | |
| Soldiers from the Welsh Guards were part of the 8,000-strong 19 (Light) Brigade, deployed on Operation Herrick 10 as part of NATO forces. | Soldiers from the Welsh Guards were part of the 8,000-strong 19 (Light) Brigade, deployed on Operation Herrick 10 as part of NATO forces. |
| They worked most notably with forces from Estonia and were based in 20 locations throughout Helmand, taking part in Operation Panchai Palang 2 (Panther's Claw). | They worked most notably with forces from Estonia and were based in 20 locations throughout Helmand, taking part in Operation Panchai Palang 2 (Panther's Claw). |
| The tour finished in October when around 130 troops arrived home. | The tour finished in October when around 130 troops arrived home. |
| The Welsh Guards are based at Lille barracks in Aldershot. | The Welsh Guards are based at Lille barracks in Aldershot. |
| The prince's visit also includes him unveiling a portrait of himself which was commissioned by the officers' mess to mark his 60th birthday last year. | The prince's visit also includes him unveiling a portrait of himself which was commissioned by the officers' mess to mark his 60th birthday last year. |
| Meanwhile, it has been confirmed the 500 extra troops going to Afghanistan will include 1st Battalion Royal Welsh. | |
| On Monday, Gordon Brown confirmed he would send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the total UK deployment to over 10,000. | On Monday, Gordon Brown confirmed he would send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, taking the total UK deployment to over 10,000. |
| Among the regiments to deploy extra troops is 1st Battalion Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers), which will form part of 11 Light Brigade. | Among the regiments to deploy extra troops is 1st Battalion Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers), which will form part of 11 Light Brigade. |
| They are currently based at Dale Barracks in Chester. | They are currently based at Dale Barracks in Chester. |