Mobility-scooter Duchess greets soldiers

Camilla, who broke her leg while hill-walking in Scotland last month, arrived at Bulford Camp near Salisbury, Wiltshire, by car and was then transferred to a wheelchair.

After addressing the troops, and praising them for their bravery, she was moved to the dark red mobility scooter to enable her to easily move down the line of soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Rifles as she presented them with campaign medals.

Camilla, who had been pushed in the wheelchair, seemed to adapt well to using the scooter, which she drove herself across the parade ground to the waiting lines of soldiers.

She has not let the accident stop her from undertaking public duties and the soldiers, who had been on a six-month tour of Afghanistan, said they appreciated her keeping the engagement despite her leg injury.

Rifleman Geoffrey Stanley, 19, from Sutton, south London, said: "It's a privilege to have her here. It's good of her to turn up, because of her leg. She could have just said no, but she's been very supportive."

Camilla only got out of the mobility scooter, and on to crutches, to hand medals to the three members of A Company who were most seriously injured and have been left in wheelchairs.

A total of 27 men from the 120-strong company had been injured during the tour and airlifted back to the UK.

One of them, Rifleman Daniel Owens, who suffered devastating injuries when he was shot through his back during an ambush, bravely got to his feet to receive the medal from the Duchess.

Rifleman Owens, 22, from Brighton, has spent the past three months at Selly Oak Hospital and travelled to Bulford Camp by ambulance.

His relatives watched proudly as he stood up, with his father wiping away tears.

A family friend said Rifleman Owens was determined to stand up for the honour, despite the agony it caused him. He only managed to stand on Monday for the first time since sustaining his injuries.

The friend said: "He was in a lot of pain, but we're so proud of him for doing it."

The Duchess spoke of her relief that all the soldiers were safely home. "It is with the greatest pride that as your Royal Colonel I am able to be with your families and the battalion to finally welcome you home after what has been one of the most hard-fought and costly tours in Afghanistan.

"It gives me the greatest possible pleasure to present you with your incredibly well-deserved and hard-earned Afghanistan service medals."