In their honorary roles within the Armed Forces, members of the Royal Family carry out regular visits related to operations in Afghanistan and, formerly, in Iraq.
Many of these take place in the UK, such as attendance at repatriation ceremonies and Services of Commemoration and Thanksgiving.
Members of the Royal Family regularly visit troops before they are deployed to Afghanistan, and this is often followed by a visit to families during the deployment, and events marking the homecoming, including the presentation of operational service medals.
Additional honours such as bravery awards, which are recommended by the Ministry of Defence, are presented by The Queen at Investiture ceremonies.
Each year, there are also a number of visits to fields of operation, during which members of the Royal Family meet service personnel from each of the Armed Forces and are briefed on operations.
From December 2007 to February 2008, Prince Harry completed more than two months active service with the British Army.
Royal visits to Afghanistan and Iraq are listed below. Visits are not confirmed in advance for security reasons:
| 08 December 2004 | The Prince of Wales visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 20 August 2005 | The Duke of York visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 5 - 7 February 2006 | The Duke of Kent visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 11-12 September 2006 | The Duke of Gloucester visited military personnel in Iraq. |
| 2-5 October 2006 | The Princess Royal, accompanied by Admiral Timothy Laurence, visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 22 October 2006 | The Duke of Edinburgh visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 13 March 2007 | The Duke of York visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 3-7 June 2007 | The Duke of Gloucester visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| December 2007-February 2008 | Prince Harry on active service in Afghanistan |
| 11-12 January 2008 | The Duke of Kent visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 13-14 January 2008 | The Duke of Kent visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 27-28 April 2008 | Prince William visited RAF personnel in Afghanistan |
| 7 June 2008 | The Duke of York visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 2-3 October 2008 | The Duke of Gloucester visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 4-6 October 2008 | The Duke of Kent, visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 27-28 October 2008 | The Duke of Gloucester visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 13 December 2008 | The Duchess of Gloucester visited military personnel in Iraq |
| 8-9 September 2009 | The Earl of Wessex visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 17-18 December 2009 | The Duke of York visited British troops in Afghanistan |
| 1 March 2010 | The Princess Royal, accompanied by Admiral Timothy Laurence, visited military personnel in Afghanistan |
| 25 March 2010 | The Prince of Wales visited British troops in Afghanistan |
More extensive information about the programmes for these visits can be found by searching the Court Circular.
View a video of the founders of the Help for Heroes charity with their OBEs:
View a video of The Duchess of Gloucester in Iraq:
View footage of The Duke of York in Afghanistan:
