Princess Anne praises Royal Wootton Bassett

Britain's Princess Anne delivered a Letters Patent to the town of Wootton Bassett yesterday (16.10.11) to give it a new Royal prefix.

Britain's Princess Anne has told the town of Royal Wootton Bassett they "set an example" for respecting the dignity of deceased soldiers.

The 61-year-old delivered a rare Letters Patent on behalf of her mother Queen Elizabeth to the small Wiltshire town giving it its new Royal prefix after it became synonymous with the repatriation of fallen service men and women who died in Afghanistan and Iraq, with thousands turning out regularly to line the streets while coffins were brought through.

She said at the ceremony yesterday (16.10.11): "I am privileged to be allowed to add my thanks to those of Her Majesty the Queen and the whole country for the example you set in respecting with dignity the losses that this country's operational responsibilities have forced upon us."

A town has not been given a royal title for more than 100 years.

Royal Wootton Bassett's repatriation role ended in August when the base for the homecoming of fallen soldiers moved from nearby RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The town's mayor Paul Heaphy said: "This is not a day for celebration but one for commemoration, one of recognition, and one to mark the beginning of a new chapter for our town."

"We did not ask for recognition and we find the attention rather humbling."