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25 MARCH 2003
The Queen has been greeted by huge crowds of well-wishers during a trip to Plymouth to comfort soldiers' families. The city was in need of some moral support as it mourned the loss of eight servicemen in Kuwait.
Elizabeth and her husband were accompanied by Linda Miller, whose husband James is in Iraq. "She was very concerned about the accidents that have happened and about the morale and welfare of the troops and their families," said Linda. "We are hugely grateful for her being here because it does help."
Helen Shattock, whose husband Sam is also on active duty in the Gulf, agreed that the Queen's visit was much appreciated. "If there is a town she needs to be in right now, it is here. It is nice to know she is behind us."
Three coachloads of families were also bussed in from RAF Honington, which has suffered the loss of a Tornado crew.
Joanna Fryatt, who brought her 12-week-old son Bailey along to meet the monarch, also took heart from the royal visit. While Bailey's dad sees action as an RAF gunner, his mum said the Queen's efforts were a godsend. "It is the morale of the family that keeps up the morale of the guys out there," she said. "If he knows we are happy, then he is happy."
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