Latest news with #RoyalDragoonGuards
Sky News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Prince William joins British troops in Challenger 2 tank on visit to Estonia
The Prince of Wales has joined troops in a Challenger 2 tank as he visited UK soldiers on a NATO base less than 100 miles from the Russian border. Prince William travelled in the commander's turret of the tank as it sped across muddy terrain at Tapa army camp in Estonia. He watched on as soldiers from the Mercian Regiment took part in training exercises. The Mercians, of which he is colonel-in-chief, have just started their six-month deployment in Estonia as the lead battlegroup working alongside NATO partners. With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. The prince witnessed how soldiers worked to clear trenches, as smoke grenades were set off and blank rounds of gunfire rang out. Earlier, as he oversaw the operational handover between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercians, he was shown a selection of military vehicles including the Warrior, an infantry fighting vehicle, the Challenger 2 main battle tank, and the multiple launch rocket systems on the parade ground. Later he was allowed to get behind the wheel of an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle with a weapon range of 50km (31 miles). Speaking to soldiers about his visit, he said: "Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes." His trip to Tapa Camp was part of a two-day visit on behalf of the UK government, with the prince deployed to show his support to Estonia, to Ukraine and the UK's commitment to NATO. The visit has been in the planning for six months, but its timing couldn't feel more significant amid the ongoing threats from Russia, discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and Trump's criticisms of NATO. 0:37 Lt Col Grant Brown from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was accompanying the prince during the field training exercise, said: "Every week there is something new going on. Our job is to reassure our allies that we are absolutely committed to freedom. And to ensure we are ready to face any threat no matter where that might come from... We are constantly out here training to ensure that we are ready." But aside from his high-level diplomatic role, Prince William wanted to draw attention to the reality of life for those troops expected to be ready to fight at any time. Talking to Estonian troops, one of them told him how they daily think about the close proximity of Russia, with the prince saying: "Yes it must focus the mind". He also spent time talking to British troops about their experiences of deployment and the impact it can have on their mental health. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is a cornerstone of the Prince's official work. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to NATO's Forward Land Forces in the two countries, providing a deterrent to Russian aggression.
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Fact Check: NATO troops in Estonia for 2025 Independence Day, not military escalation
A video of NATO troops and armoured vehicles in Estonia in February is not evidence of a recent military escalation with Russia, as has been suggested online. "NATO arrived to Estonia. British soldiers and tanks in Tallinn. #tank #estronia #nato #russia #ww3 #itshappening #wtf #war,' said a March 30 post on Threads., opens new tab An official from NATO's press office said in an email to Reuters there was not a military escalation with Russia, as suggested by the post's hashtags, and that the footage showed the British Army's Royal Dragoon Guards in Tallinn on February 24, 2025, to mark Estonia's Independence Day, opens new tab. The Royal Dragoon Guards were in the city as part of NATO's multinational battlegroup in Estonia, which is led by UK troops and is tasked with protecting the alliance's eastern flank, opens new tab. NATO says, opens new tab the battlegroup was first deployed in 2017. The bell tower in the background of the video is consistent with Google Maps images, opens new tab of St. Nicholas Church in central Tallinn. A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Tallinn also said the video showed scenes from Estonia's Independence Day on February 24, 2025. Reuters identified the three British military vehicles in the video. The vehicles - which had the numberplates 62KK13, opens new tab, DT16AA, opens new tab, and 87KJ63, opens new tab - were pictured in Estonia between May and December 2024, evidence that none of them had just arrived in the country in February 2025, as implied by the social media post. The video was published to the YouTube account @inside2279, opens new tab with a caption that included the words: "NATO army arrived to Estonia. Independence Day" on March 24, 2025, opens new tab. A spokesperson for the account, in an email to Reuters, said they had filmed and published the footage, which they said showed Tallinn on February 24, 2025, on Estonia's Independence Day. VERDICT Miscaptioned. The video shows NATO troops in Tallinn on February 24, 2025, for Estonia's Independence Day, according to NATO and British officials. Photos posted online in 2024 suggest the three armoured vehicles in the video were in Estonia long before February. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
Sky News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Prince William pictured in Challenger 2 tank on visit to British troops in Estonia
The Prince of Wales has joined troops in a Challenger 2 tank as he visited UK soldiers on a NATO base less than 100 miles from the Russian border. Prince William travelled in the commander's turret of the tank as it sped across muddy terrain at Tapa army camp in Estonia. He watched on as soldiers from the Mercian Regiment took part in training exercises. The Mercians, of which he is colonel-in-chief, have just started their six-month deployment in Estonia as the lead battlegroup working alongside NATO partners. With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. The prince witnessed how soldiers worked to clear trenches, as smoke grenades were set off and blank rounds of gunfire rang out. Earlier, as he oversaw the operational handover between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercians, he was shown a selection of military vehicles including the Warrior, an infantry fighting vehicle, the Challenger 2 main battle tank, and the multiple launch rocket systems on the parade ground. Later he was allowed to get behind the wheel of an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle with a weapon range of 50km (31 miles). Speaking to soldiers about his visit, he said: "Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes." His trip to Tapa Camp was part of a two-day visit on behalf of the UK government, with the prince deployed to show his support to Estonia, to Ukraine and the UK's commitment to NATO. The visit has been in the planning for six months, but its timing couldn't feel more significant amid the ongoing threats from Russia, discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and Trump's criticisms of NATO. 0:37 Lt Col Grant Brown from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was accompanying the prince during the field training exercise, said: "Every week there is something new going on. Our job is to reassure our allies that we are absolutely committed to freedom. And to ensure we are ready to face any threat no matter where that might come from... We are constantly out here training to ensure that we are ready." But aside from his high-level diplomatic role, Prince William wanted to draw attention to the reality of life for those troops expected to be ready to fight at any time. Talking to Estonian troops, one of them told him how they daily think about the close proximity of Russia, with the prince saying: "Yes it must focus the mind". He also spent time talking to British troops about their experiences of deployment and the impact it can have on their mental health. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is a cornerstone of the Prince's official work. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to NATO's Forward Land Forces in the two countries, providing a deterrent to Russian aggression.
Telegraph
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Prince William meets British troops on Nato's front line
The Prince of Wales has donned army fatigues to join British troops on a field exercise in Estonia, on the front line of Nato's defence against Russia. Prince William will join the soldiers in trench warfare at Tapa Camp, just 80 miles from the Russian border and home to the UK's largest military deployment overseas. On arrival at the base, he met Estonian troops before taking part in a handover ceremony between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment, of which he is Colonel-in-Chief. He was then due to ride in a Challenger 2 battle tank and a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle as he joined the Mercians in a trench cleaning exercise. The visit comes amid heightened tensions with Russia. Sir Keir Starmer is considering proposals to send British fighter jets to police the skies above the country, while Emmanuel Macron is exploring alternatives to his plan with Sir Keir to put European boots on the ground to protect a future peace deal in Ukraine. Kensington Palace sources noted that the Prince's visit to Estonia, while six months in the planning, could not have been more timely. On Thursday, Estonian president Alar Karis told the heir to the throne how much his country valued Britain's military presence and said he hoped they would remain. Some 900 personnel are deployed in Estonia on rolling six-month rotations under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces. A palace source said it was 'really important' to the Prince to 'get his hands dirty' by being out on training exercises and experiencing exactly what the soldiers do in the field. He was due to drive himself off the field in an Archer, a fully automatic truck carrying a 155mm field gun. The Prince will also learn about their various weapon systems as well as the mental health support available to soldiers on the base. The Prince will end his 24-hour visit by joining Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' shop and canteen. An excellent first day in Estonia, experiencing the warmth and hospitality of this beautiful country 🇪🇪 — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 20, 2025 The brief trip was considered a crucial and timely opportunity to reassure Estonians of the UK's commitment to their own security and applaud their own strong support for Ukraine. On Thursday, the Prince praised the 'resilience' and 'spirit' of Ukrainians as he met refugees who have fled their wartorn country to seek refuge in Estonia. 'It's been a very difficult few years for you guys,' he said. 'Everyone sees that. What I love is (that) the Ukrainian resilience is everywhere. You all are very smiley and very strong and very spiritual people. And honestly, that comes across everywhere. Even the Ukrainians I've met in the UK are like that - very resilient and very strong about things.
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
William to meet British troops defending Estonia against the threat of Russia
The Prince of Wales will ride in a Challenger tank when he meets British soldiers defending Estonia against Russian aggression as part of Nato forces. William is Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment and will meet soldiers from his regiment who are taking over Nato duties in Estonia from the Royal Dragoon Guards. The future king will take part in a handover ceremony and join troops training in trench warfare during his time at Tapa military base in Estonia. UK troops lead a battlegroup in Estonia, and the 900 British service personnel in the country are the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. Russia is seen as a growing threat in the region following its three-year-long invasion of Ukraine, with the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia – which border Russian President Vladimir Putin's nation appearing increasingly concerned. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces in the two countries. During his time at the military base, the prince will also meet Estonian troops and visit the welfare team to learn about the emotional and mental wellbeing support that is available to UK soldiers William will end his two-day visit to Estonia by meeting Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' shop and canteen.
