THE Duchess of Cornwall, patron of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, hosted a reception at Highgrove House to mark the 25th anniversary of the air ambulance.

The reception at the Gloucestershire home of the Prince of Wales and the duchess on May 6 was attended by members of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance charity team, crew and trustees along with the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton.

There was a tour of the gardens for the WAA team before meeting the duchess.

The duchess, who has been the patron of WAA since 2009, was introduced to the charity team by WAA chairman Mandy Clarke. The duchess was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Claire Kelly, Head of People, Vision and Values at WAA.

Ms Kelly said: “Her Royal Highness has a great interest in Wiltshire Air Ambulance and spoke to everyone individually about the work that they do.

"In a speech to us all she said she is proud of Wiltshire Air Ambulance and knows of people whose lives have been saved by it.

"The team at Wiltshire Air Ambulance were really honoured to have the opportunity to meet her.”

The charity’s new helicopter started operating in January and is the first Bell 429 to operate as an air ambulance in the UK.

With a a top speed of 156 knots (180mph) it can reach anywhere in the county within minutes. 

It costs £2.5 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying - £6,850 per day - and relies entirely on public donations.