The battalion moved to Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, in September 2007. Yesterday His Royal Highness The Duke of York, Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, visited the soldiers and helped them mix their Christmas pudding in advance of the battalion's Christmas lunch tomorrow.

The Duke met with the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Freely, before chatting to some of the soldiers over lunch. His Royal Highness then helped the youngest member of the battalion, 17-year-old William Galloway, to add the final ingredient to the battalion's Christmas pudding.

1 Royal Irish is due to deploy to Afghanistan in March 2008. The last time many of its members met with His Royal Highness was in 2005, while on tour in Basra.

The Duke spent time with some of the soldiers' families and watched a demonstration of the type of training the battalion is undertaking before leaving for Afghanistan.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York said:

"It is incredibly important for me to visit the troops and their families at times like this. The regimental family has recently moved from Inverness to this base in Shropshire. Coming here to see the battalion helps me to keep in touch with the issues on the ground. I learn something new every time I visit.

"As Colonel-in-Chief since 1992 I have visited 1 Royal Irish on a number of occasions. I see the same faces again and again, rising through the ranks. It's an opportunity to meet up with old friends."

Lt Col Freely added:

"We are delighted to welcome The Duke of York to our new home at Tern Hill. I've been able to update him on our training, moves and plans for our impending deployment.

"He is the head of our family here at the 1 Royal Irish and having him visit us is a real morale boost for the soldiers and their families at this very busy, turbulent time leading up to our deployment in the new year."