In pictures: Chelsea welcomes women

The Royal Chelsea Hospital, home to more than 300 British veterans, has opened its doors to women for the first time.

Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Phillips were welcomed by some of the Chelsea Pensioners at a ceremony in the Hospital.

Dorothy Hughes was posted to the 450 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery in London during World War II...

...and later worked with the Army Operational Research Group developing fuses in shells used against V2 rockets.

Winifred Phillips (centre) was a nurse before joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1948.

Winifred then enlisted in the Women's Royal Army Corps and completed 22 years of service in Egypt, Singapore, Cyprus and Germany.

The Royal Chelsea Hospital was founded in 1682 for the "succour and relief of veterans broken by age and war".

The press were on hand to record this historic moment in the Hospital's history.

The introduction of women is the result of years of fundraising.

For the men, life in the Hospital may never be the same. Photographs and text by Phil Coomes.

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