THE Duchess of Cornwall today presented Iraq tour medals to the soldiers of 4th Battalion The Rifles in Wiltshire.

The regiment recently returned from six months in the Gulf, during which time they saw some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign, earning themselves the nickname the "Lions of Basra".

Five soldiers from the battalion died during the tour.

For the first four months, 4 Rifles were based at Basra Palace, helping quell the insurgency before its handover to local control in September.

In a speech to the regiment at Kiwi Barracks parade square, Bulford Camp, Camilla, 4 Rifles' Royal Colonel, listed the names of the five lost soldiers.

She told the battalion: "You have made your Royal Colonel very proud, proud of you and proud to be British, and I believe this country owes you a huge debt of gratitude."

She wore an outfit designed specially for the event - a Rifles-green crepe dress and military frock coat made from 4 Rifles wool.

Among those the Duchess presented with Operation Telic medals was Rifleman Stephen Vause, 20, from Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, who suffered severe brain injuries in a mortar attack and remains wheelchair-bound.

Camilla told Rifleman Vause: "Congratulations, Stephen. Seeing you again is wonderful. You are a real star. Next time I hope to see you walking. I know you are going to get better."

The duchess has followed Rifleman Vause's recovery since he was injured, and Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Sanders, commander of 4 Rifles, said having the duchess to present the campaign medals was "incredibly special".