The Princess of Wales donned combat gear as she make her debut in a new military role on Wednesday.
Kate, 41, visited 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) in Norfolk for the first time as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment and was dubbed "a natural" as she drove a seven-tonne armoured vehicle equipped with a machine gun.
The Princess was appointed the role by her father-in-law, King Charles, in August.
During her outing, Kate received a brief on the regiment from Senior Officers and had the opportunity to experience elements of what operational life is like for servicemen and women.
Arriving in a black blazer, roll neck and trouser combo, the Princess later swapped her outfit for a combat jacket and helmet.
Corporal Darreyl Tukana, a driving instructor, sat beside Kate in the Jackal 2 as she visited Robertson Barracks in Swanton Morley, Norfolk. He drove her to a troop hide, then let her take the controls to drive them back to where they started.
Kate exclaimed "it's really great" after bringing the vehicle to a stop, adding: "It's very responsive actually, given the size of the thing."
Corporal Darreyl Tukana said of the Princess afterwards: "She was a natural. She drives a Land Rover back at home – I told her it's exactly the same, just take it slowly and go back to where we started off from.
"She was enjoying every bit of the journey itself. It's different from what she's driving, it’s a bigger vehicle."
Asked if he had to teach her much, he said: “Not really, I just needed to switch on a few toggle switches before start-up, because it’s different from a car.
“But I switched it on, put it into gear and I told her it’s just like a normal car.”
The royal mum-of-three also met families of QDG personnel to hear about their experiences and the welfare support that is offered by the regiment.
Kate Ormston, 31, whose 38-year-old husband Staff Sergeant Paul Ormston is attached to the regiment, was with their two children Joey, 10, and six-year-old Jackson when she spoke to the royal.
She said: "It was really exciting. She asked about Army life and my husband being deployed, and just generally she was just really down to earth and friendly, it was really nice.
"She spoke to everyone individually, she introduced herself to the children and asked their names and ages which was really nice. I think they were a little bit overwhelmed as well."
She added: "She's done it herself, hasn't she? William's been in the military so she knows what it's like.”
Princess Kate also handed out Long Service and Good Conduct medals to a number of servicemen and women, and ahead of Remembrance Sunday, she took a moment with serving personnel to remember those that the QDG have lost in active service in recent years.
And before leaving by helicopter, Kate promoted the regimental mascot, a Bay Welsh Mountain pony called Trooper ‘Longface’ Emrys Jones, from Lance Corporal to Corporal.
The QDG have been active for over 300 years, having been formed in 1959 from the amalgamation of the two senior Cavalry regiments, 1st King's Dragoon Guards and The Queen's Bays.
The QDG specialise in reconnaissance: the art of seeking out the enemy and understanding how they operate.
Since their formation, the QDG have moved all over the world and most recently, from June 2021 to June 2022, were deployed to Mali as part of a peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will be among the senior royals to attend the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London alongside the King and Queen on Saturday evening.
Prince William and Kate are also expected to attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday.
The Prince concluded his four-day visit to Singapore on Wednesday, in support of the third Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony.
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