Parties were thrown by British troops serving in Afghanistan over the bank holiday weekend to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Stafford’s) hosted a barbeque at their base, within Camp Bastion, inviting along members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) who they are mentoring, as well as their American and Danish colleagues. They watched the wedding coverage on two widescreen televisions while eating steaks and drinking non-alcoholic beer.

Servicemen and women at Camp Bastion’s hospital watched the ceremony on television while eating fresh cream cakes, ahead of an evening barbeque. At the headquarters of Task Force Helmand in Lashkar Gah, where troops on a break from their work were able to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom on a large TV that was sheltered from the blazing Helmand sun by a sea of Union Flags.

There may not have been a wedding breakfast but the chefs at the base prepared a special cake to mark the marriage, which was washed down with non-alcoholic champagne. Personnel at smaller, more remote forward operating bases, patrol bases and check-points also marked the day, gathering around laptops or radios to witness the momentous occasion.

Diary Dates Today: The Royal Artillery Association meets at 19.30 hours at the RAOB club, Otley Road.

Thursday: The Guiseley branch of the Royal British Legion meets at 14.00 hours at The Guide hut, The Green, Guiseley.