Operation Cabrit: Duchess of Edinburgh welcomes troops home from Nato deployment

The Duchess of Edinburgh has attended a homecoming parade celebrating the return of soldiers from 5th Battalion The Rifles after their six-month deployment in Estonia.

The troops had been part of Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's defence of its eastern flank.

Families and guests gathered at Picton Barracks to welcome back the soldiers.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is the Royal Colonel of 5 Rifles, presented the Coronation and Wider Service Medals to personnel.

The battalion had been embedded within a multinational battle group in Estonia, comprising British, French and Estonian forces.

Lieutenant Colonel Kempley Buchan-Smith, the battalion's Commanding Officer, explained their mission.

"We're providing incredible combined arms fighting force and are ready to defend Estonia's country, if required," he said.

Another officer, Captain Natalie Waddington, reflected on one of the more memorable exercises during the deployment, where troops engaged with local Estonian villagers.

"For the first time the Estonians had us in the south of the country," she explained.

"And instead of training on defence states, we were... rolling through villages and asking people if we could set up in their farmhouses - and... kids are coming out and giving us honey."

The Duchess also gave out mini Rifles medals to the children of personnel who were deployed.