Soldiers fly in for Queen's visit

Maj Nicky Bell followed the Queen on her Honour Guard inspection

British soldiers have flown in from Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Germany as the Queen paid a visit to the Royal Engineers' barracks in Kent.

Their families and members of the public also gathered to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty as she inspected her troops at Brompton Barracks, Chatham.

The Queen had a crab and chicken lunch after a seated group photo with the Royal Engineers' commanding officers.

Their Colonel-in-Chief last visited 20 years ago to open a museum there.

She arrived at the barracks on Thursday by helicopter.

Gen Sir Kevin O'Donoghue said: "It's a great honour, she's our colonel-in-chief, she tries to visit us as often as she can and this is really exciting.

The Queen lined up for a photo of the occasion with officers

"She is the most senior Royal Engineer and it's nice to see her in the family of the Corps. It's a huge morale boost."

Maj Nicky Bell, a Royal Engineer for 12 years, was directly behind the Queen as she inspected the Honour Guard.

She said: "We practised so many times but for the Queen to actually come up, I was so nervous but just trying to concentrate on getting the words out."

And L/Cpl Paul Whibley was so overwhelmed by the occasion that "instead of shaking her hand I wanted to give her a big hug".

"All the years I've been in the forces I've never got to meet her and she's my boss and the colonel-in-chief."

"She's a prestigious lady," he added.