Youngsters' welcome is right royal one

CITY school children were treated like royalty – as The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations began with a bang.

A 21-gun royal salute rang out from The Royal Citadel to mark 60 years since Her Majesty's ascension to the throne.

PUPILS' VISIT: The 21-gun salute, above; Major Jon Cresswell shows pupils the key to the Citadel, above rightl; Jack Talks and Georgina Pitt have a closer look at a gun, below; Time for a picture memento of the visit, bottom

The Queen herself spent the day in Norfolk, close to her private Sandringham estate, but fifteen lucky Eggbuckland Vale Primary School pupils were on hand to see the spectacle up close.

They had been invited to meet soldiers from 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery who have recently returned from Afghanistan.

The youngsters, many of whom are from service families, were given VIP treatment by the troops, who gave them a tour of the historic 17th Century fortress.

29 Cdo's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Dawes, said: "The Regiment draws great strength from our local community links, which are important to us.

"The support that the regiment and our families received from the local community during our recent tour in Afghanistan was first rate and quite overwhelming."

The Army commando unit has recently returned from Operation Herrick 14, which saw them serve in Afghanistan's war-torn Helmand Province supporting Stonehouse-based 3 Commando Brigade.

The children's visit was organised by HMS Heroes, a nationwide group set up to help the children of service families, in conjunction with Plymouth City Council.

The centrepiece of 2012's Diamond Jubilee celebrations will come in June, with a weekend full of events planned by Buckingham Palace.