ARMED forces personnel taking part in an epic round the world voyage have been given a royal boost.
The Duke of York has taken on patronage of the Exercise Transglobe, which will see more than 500 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel take to the seas for the 13-leg circumnavigation in July.
In a message to competitors, Prince Andrew described the voyage, in aid of forces charity Help for Heroes, as an “incredible opportunity”.
He said: “Robust adventurous training such as this is essential in preparing our armed forces for operations worldwide, and all involved will find themselves tested in ways they would not have thought possible on ocean-going legs of four to six weeks.
“I sincerely hope that Exercise Transglobe achieves all it sets out to, be that pushing the boundaries and developing the personal qualities of all taking part, or the raising of much-needed funds in support of Help for Heroes.”
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