Charles presents soldiers with Afghan medals at Sandringham

More than 60 troops from the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, were honoured during a ceremony at Sandringham House on the Royal Estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.

The Prince, the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, also awarded Elizabeth Crosses to the families of 12 soldiers killed during the battalion's six-month tour earlier this year.

It is thought to be the second time that such a ceremony has been staged at a Royal residence.

Last year the Prince awarded Afghanistan campaign medals to soldiers from the regiment's 2nd Battalion.

Commanders said more than 500 troops from the battalion were deployed to Sangin, Nahr-e Saraj and Lashkar Gah between April and October.

They said nine members of the battalion and three soldiers attached to the battalion died but would not say how many had been wounded.

Five of the 68 soldiers on parade yesterday were in wheelchairs after losing limbs, another was on crutches and one had been sent home early suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Army officials said troops receiving medals mainly came from Cheshire and the Wirral, Merseyside.

The Prince also met the regimental mascot, a Swaledale ram called Private Derby XXIX, and its handers Corporal Andrew Skinner and Private Kevin Percival.

Following the ceremony, troops chatted to the Prince and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, at a reception.