PRINCESS Anne has met families of servicemen at RAF Lyneham.

The Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lyneham, HRH The Princess Royal, met service personnel and their spouses or partners who deploy regularly from the station.

The Princess Royal was given an introduction to the repatriation ceremony, which has it starting point at the base. This included going to the apron where a Hercules represented the repatriation aircraft.

Squadron Leader Jon Edmondson, project officer for the visit, said: “Everybody was thoroughly impressed to see how interested HRH The Princess Royal was in RAF Lyneham’s work and that she is so keen to maintain her close relationship with the Unit.”

Princess Anne also visited the Hive building, where many families meet whilst their partners are away, and heard about how forces’ families cope without their loved ones.

One serviceman said: “I know it is hard when I am away but the Hive gives my wife a point of contact if she has any worries.”

His wife said: “I do not have family here so it helps to have somewhere I can meet friends and the children can play.”