CIVIC and military leaders in the New Forest are getting ready to welcome a royal visitor just days after Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Princess Anne is set to travel to Marchwood tomorrow for an anniversary dinner at McMullen Barracks.

She will be joined by the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

The Hampshire trip is just one of a series of events attended by the Princess Royal this week to mark four decades since the conflict.

Daily Echo: the Princess Royal and Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, at the Palace of Westminster. Picture by UK Parliament/Jessica Taylorthe Princess Royal and Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, at the Palace of Westminster. Picture by UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

Today, Princess Anne travelled to Westminster to watch the Royal Marines perform the Beating Retreat ceremony in Speaker’s Court.

Speaking at the event, the Queen's daughter said that from her experience, a visit to the islands was always “well worth the effort”.

“That constant feeling of gratitude from the islanders and understanding of what was achieved is still very much felt. It’s always a pleasure to go there,” she said.

She also paid tribute to the veterans of the conflict, saying: “Your courage and skill in battle was thoroughly tested and found to be exemplary. And this nation owes you all a huge debt of gratitude.”

On Wednesday, more than 100 people gathered in Marchwood for a parade to commemorate the attacks against the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram.

Both ships were bombed by Argentine fighter jets during the conflict on June 8, 1982, which resulted in the single largest loss of British lives during the war.

Veterans who served onboard the ships travelled from all over the UK to lay a wreath at the Falklands War Memorial.

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