THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE Back to work to hear first-hand accounts of the Afghan airlift

THANKS THE BRAVE TROOPS WHO RESCUED AFGHANISTAN REFUGEES

After a summer break with her family, including a trip to the South of France to see her brother James Middleton get married, the Duchess of Cambridge returned to royal duties last week. Having settled Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and three-year-old Prince Louis back into their school and nursery routine in London, Kate, 39, headed to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last Wednesday to express her “thanks and pride” to military personnel and civilians involved in the dramatic evacuation of Kabul.

The Duchess also heard of the emotional toll experienced by those who helped airlift more than 15,000 people to safety during Operation Pitting last month, which involved every unit at RAF Brize Norton, with personnel working alongside the Royal Navy, army, local authorities and aid organisations in Afghanistan and the UK.

She was shown some of the aircraft used to bring the refugees to Britain

via Dubai and heard how families with young children had been rescued amid scenes of “desperation and confusion” as the Taliban closed in.

Aircraft and crew from the airbase flew round the clock during the humanitarian crisis and stark images of refugees packed into military planes went around the world.

In one record flight, an RAF C-17 Globemaster, which normally carries around 100 service personnel, flew 439 passengers out of danger.

As she chatted to the people

‘ She appreciated that some of it wasn’t easy and how smoothly we kept things running’

involved, Kate commented on how some of the flights carried “babies, tiny babies”.

Corporal Guy Watts, who did seven flights to Kabul and whose job involved making sure the journeys remained safe, said the Duchess expressed her “thanks and her pride” in the job the troops had done.

“She appreciates that some of it wasn’t easy,” he added. “And she appreciated how smoothly we managed to keep things running.”

UNSETTLED FUTURE

Guy said the refugees had not seen a military jet before, telling the Duchess: “The adrenaline was really pumping as we were getting them on. Then as soon as we were in the air and got to altitude, they just collapsed.”

“Did they know what the plan was?” asked Kate. “You must have been asked loads of questions, like: ‘What’s happening next?’”

He replied: “A lot of them did not realise we were going to Dubai. They were asking: ‘How long is the

The Duchess expressed her ‘thanks and her pride’ in the job the troops had done

flight to the UK? When is the next meal coming?’”

He said the evacuees began to relax once the plane took to the air, telling her: “That was such a big burden that was lifted off their shoulders. It was lovely to see. It was very rewarding.”

Flight Lieutenant Andy Bell told Kate: “In 25 years of flying I have never experienced anything like it.”

The father of sons aged eight and five added: “I had to take a bit of time out to think about things.

“I was helping shepherd the refugees off the back of the aircraft and it was the last family that really hit me.

“It was a family of four,” he continued. “A mother, a tiny little infant over her shoulder, fast asleep – the mother looked sick with worry. A young girl, no older than my youngest lad, has no idea where she is and Dad seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Bewilderment, desperation, confusion – and a single backpack. That’s the bit that hit me. That’s the family that we have just taken out of a horrific situation.

“But they’re not out of it. The immediate threat has gone, but their life is in complete turmoil.

“I had to take myself away, find a quiet corner for ten minutes while we turned the aircraft round and stuck some more fuel in it,” added Andy. “Then it’s: ‘Right, let’s go and do the same tomorrow.’”

NARROW ESCAPE

Meanwhile, Wing Commander Kev Latchman told Kate how on the second of three flights he piloted out of Kabul, a bus drove across the runway as he began his take-off run, forcing him to make a snap decision to lift the aircraft’s nose early to avoid a possible collision.

“That was quite scary,” he said. “We have had all the data back now and we were less than ten feet over the top of the bus.

“We had 377 people on board and I’m glad that I’m stood here right now.”

Kate commented on how some of the flflights carried ‘babies, tiny babies’

Kate looks refreshed after her summer break, flying the flag for the British fashion industry with a cream Reiss blazer over a Binky blouse from Jane Atelier and finishing her look with a 1950s-inspired Tusting Mini Holly bag

The Duchess returns to work with a visit to RAF Brize Norton (right and below right) to personally thank the crews who helped evacuate refugees from Afghanistan

After seeing the aircraft that took part in the operation and helped evacuate more than 15,000 people, Kate chats to the crew members and civilian support (above and below) and hears about the harrowing tales and the scenes of “desperation and confusion” as families struggled to leave the country

UK armed forces personnel supervise the stream of British citizens and dual nationals leaving Afghanistan (above), with planes meant to carry around 100 people holding more than four times that number (below)