Charles has been Colonel in Chief of the regiment for 37 years

The ceremony, at Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire, was the first time Camilla had presented serving members of the Armed Forces with medals.

It was the last time the regiment's 1st Battalion will parade its colours.

Next year, it will merge with The Royal Welsh Fusiliers to create the larger Royal Welsh Regiment.

I was only told they would be inspecting my room yesterday. I had to take down all my Pamela Anderson posters Private Joe Durham

Captain Matt Thomas, 25, from Neath, South Wales, was among seven soldiers presented with a special award by Charles and Camilla.

He was recognised for leading his men safely through a gun battle in Al Amarah.

After the parade, the royal couple inspected the room of Private Joe Durham, from Cardiff, in the base's newly-built accommodation block.

"Does everything work all right, the heating and the hot water?" Charles asked.

After the inspection, Pte Durham said he had found the visit "daunting".

"I was only told they would be inspecting my room yesterday," he said.

"I had to take down all my Pamela Anderson posters."

My youngest son is at Sandhurst, you know? Prince Charles

Afterwards, Charles and Camilla chatted with a group of soldiers living in the block.

"My youngest son is at Sandhurst, you know" Charles said.

"He has taken to it like a duck to water - it's just what he needs.

"He likes rolling around in muddy ditches, I think."

Later, at a drinks reception, Charles told the soldiers and their families he could not "keep up with all the different changes that go on" in the Armed Forces.

"I know that shortly, in a few months' time, you are going to be turned into the Royal Welsh (Regiment)," he said.

"Every time I get a new uniform, I don't wear it because it's changed by the time it arrives."

Battle honours

The prince, who has been the regiment's Colonel in Chief for 37 years, said he was "not sure what the future holds" in regard to his connection with the men.

The 440-strong regiment has battle honours dating back to the Battle of Waterloo.

Soldiers from the regiment returned from their second tour in Iraq recently.

"This is the first time in 10 tours that we have brought back all our men," spokesman Cpt Matt Lewis said.

"But we realise our colleagues in other regiments have lost men.

"We are relieved and pleased."