ROYAL Anglian soldiers have celebrated their golden jubilee during a special service.

The regiment, whose Viking battalion recruits from Essex, received new colours at the service in Duxford on Sunday prsented by the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.

More than 200 officers were on parade to hear the Duke state: “I am delighted to be present at this historic occasion.

“The Royal Anglian Regiment is very modern and forward thinking, but we hold our county roots very close to our heart and our history and geography contribute so much to who we are.

“The regiment is also a family and we have three fighting battalions at the core of a community built on the support of our families, veterans and home towns. We would not be able to sustain our excellent standards without that solid support.”

Lieutenant General Phil Jones CBE, colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, said: “I feel enormously proud to be involved as the regiment receives its new colours.

“We are also celebrating our first 50 years as a modern infantry regiment.”

The Royal Anglian Regiment recruit from nine counties.