The Princess Royal has visited The King’s Royal Hussars during a major field exercise on Salisbury Plain, where troops demonstrated modern warfighting techniques ahead of a planned NATO deployment to Estonia, the British Army said.
Her Royal Highness, who has served as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment for more than 50 years, attended Exercise Iron Cyclone, a four-week training programme designed to prepare the armoured unit for operations aimed at deterring adversaries on NATO’s eastern flank, the Army stated.
During the visit, she was shown a range of capabilities being developed and refined by the regiment, including how troops disperse, manoeuvre and fight at night, as well as how they integrate tanks, infantry, drones and cyber and electromagnetic activities into a single operational approach.
Major Alex Walch, Officer Commanding C Squadron, said: “We were able to explain to Her Royal Highness how we are looking at how we disperse, how we move, shoot and fight at night — and how we coordinate tanks, infantry, drones and CEMA capabilities to underpin our competitive edge.”
The visit included demonstrations of counter-unmanned aerial systems, cyber and electronic warfare tools, and battlefield recovery and repair capabilities delivered by attached Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Welford MBE, Commanding Officer of The King’s Royal Hussars, said the visit was significant for the regiment, adding: “It’s an absolute privilege to have our Colonel-in-Chief visit us as we conduct our training here on Salisbury Plain.”
The Princess Royal’s association with the regiment dates back more than five decades, beginning with her appointment as Colonel-in-Chief of the 14th/20th Hussars before their amalgamation into The King’s Royal Hussars in 1969.
