Portsmouth sailors stunned by Prince Charles' visit

SAILORS in Portsmouth rubbed shoulders with royalty when Prince Charles paid a visit to a new navy base in the Middle East.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Nov 2016, 17:41 BST

Updated 16th Nov 2016, 15:53 BST

HRH The Prince of Wales shares a joke with the ships company of HMS Middleton. Picture: PO G Granger US Navy

The Prince of Wales opened the welfare building at Mina Salman port in Bahrain – the first new facility to be unveiled ashore east of Suez since 1971.

And as part of the visit, he met the crew of minehunter HMS Middleton, which is based in the region.

Able Seaman Gareth Miles, 31, was one of those who met Prince Charles. He said: ‘It was a real honour to meet the Prince of Wales and it’s definitely the highlight of my deployment.

‘The new facilities being built here will make a huge difference to our quality of life out here, where the Royal Navy is based all year round to maintain security in the Gulf.’

The new site will play a key role in helping the navy secure vital shipping lanes.