Duchess praises RAF for role in Kabul airlift

THE Duchess of Cambridge congratulated military personnel who took part in the Afghan evacuation on a visit to RAF Brize Norton yesterday.

She was greeted with a salute at the airbase in Oxfordshire before meeting those who supported the UK’S mission to evacuate refugees and British nationals from Kabul airport.

The operation saw 15,000 people flown out of the country after the Taliban seized power last month.

Over two weeks, more than 850 people arrived at RAF Brize Norton, where they were given food, clothing, children’s toys and medical support while their details were processed.

Wing Commander Kev Latchman told the Duchess how he had to make a snap decision to take off early to avoid hitting a bus that was careering towards his plane.

He ended up missing it by just 10ft. “That was quite scary,” he said.

He said later that the Duchess expressed her “thanks and her pride” in the job they had done.