Princess of Wales Royal Regiment parading through Winchester could be deployed to join Operation Herrick

The news comes as the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment marches proudly down Winchester High Street today in front of thousands of wellwishers from across Hampshire.

Members of the Ist Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment are expected to be deplayed to Afghanistan next year.

As part of the final chapter of Operation Herrick they will be heavily involved in handing over full control of the country as troops pull out.

Setting off from the Peninsula Barracks at 12 noon and marching through High Street to the Broadway, the Tigers, as they are called, will halt in front of the Guildhall ready for inspection at 12.10pm.

There will be around 160 soldiers in the parade when, accompanied by the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, they exercise their right to the freedom of the city.

Brigadier Richard Dennis, Colonel of the Regiment, said: “The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment is extremely proud to parade through the towns and cities we call home.

“We are an integral part of these communities and these parades are symbolic both of our gratitude for the tremendous support we receive and our ongoing commitment to this longstanding relationship.”

News of the potential deployment of the Tigers to Afghanistan came in a statement from Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, who said the 20th Armoured Brigade, of which the 1st Battalion of PWRR are a part, is currently training to relieve 7th Armoured Brigade in 2014.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “They will head out in the middle of next year, although there is no concrete date yet.”

The Daily Echo can also reveal that 2nd Battalion PWRR could also find themselves playing a role in the final chapter of Operation Herrick.

Major Ben Walters, of 2 PWRR, said: “If Afghanistan is finished at the end of 2014, as the Prime Minister has indicated, it’s expected that the 20th Armoured Brigade will be the last out there, but we don’t know.

“But the 2nd Battalion are also part of the brigade and will be in Cyprus in the role of theatre reserve battalion, so there is the possibility that if the situation warrants it, they could be the reinforcements.”

Major Walters said the PWRR had been chosen on a rotational basis and on account of its readiness.

And it’s not the first time the regiment has had the honour of bringing operations to a close.

In 2009, having already completed tours of Iraq in 2004 and 2006, the 1st Battalion oversaw the withdrawal of UK Forces from Basra, having spent much of the time there training the Iraqi National Army.

The 1st Battalion were in Afghanistan in August 2011, when among their roles were training the Afghan police force.

In 2009 they spent time on duty in Iraq where they played a major part in bringing an end to Allied forces operations in the country.

Formerly known as The Hampshire Regiment, they were amalgamated with The Queen’s Regiment in 1992 with Diana, Princess of Wales as colonel in chief – a position now held by Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

Drawn from across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent, they are among the most highly-regarded frontline troops the UK has.

Having proved their worth in major theatres of conflict throughout the world, they are the most decorated of all British Army regiments, with 57 Victoria Crosses to their name.