Prince Charles trained at RNAS Yeovilton in the 1970s

Prince Charles met the families of air crews, as well as military personnel, during his trip to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset on Thursday.

He smiled and joked as he was introduced to the families of 450 base personnel serving in the Gulf.

Anna Rawles, 33, holding her four-month-old daughter Milly as she spoke to the Prince, said afterwards the visit had meant a lot.

Morale boost

Mrs Rawles, whose husband Lieutenant Julian Rawles is serving with the Commando Helicopter Force supporting 42 Commando, said the Prince had asked how she and her three daughters were coping.

She said: "It's nice to know that we're getting the support of the royal family - that they're doing their bit and they care."

Karen Band, 39, and her three daughters also met the Prince. Her husband, Lieutenant Commander Jim Band, 39, is serving on HMS Ocean as part of 845 squadron.

During her conversation with the prince, her daughter Katie, five, took hold of the Prince's cup and took a sip of his coffee, which she said afterwards was "yummy".

Mrs Band said: "I think his visit was fantastic. I think it is a real boost for morale and it is great he is supporting us all."

Show support

She said all the family were missing her husband but that the girls had created 'Daddy boxes', with photographs and personal items from their father, to comfort them when they missed him.

Mrs Band added: "We have good days and bad days but the girls are coping remarkably well."

The visit was part of series of engagements by senior members of the Royal Family to show support for British troops in Iraq.

Yeovilton is home to Royal Navy Sea Harrier F/A2s, Lynx helicopters and Commando Helicopter Force.

Charles himself spent a number of months at the station in 1974 where he underwent training to fly helicopters.