Queen Camilla visits RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire

Camilla visited RAF Leeming on Friday (September 6) where bees and chickens are kept and vegetables grown on an allotment – all a stone’s throw from where jet fighters land.

She arrived in blustery, sunny conditions which whipped up her hair as she was greeted by a guard of honour after her plane touched down at the base.

Queen Camilla, Honorary Air Commodore, is given a tour of the allotment, during her visit to RAF Leeming, Northallerton (Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

As she toured the wellness project, which the servicemen and women say provides them with a haven away from their military duties, Camilla told one family “eating fresh eggs, they always taste much better".

Organisers of the initiative rescued a group of hens from a battery farm when it closed and have also taken on a number of rare breed chickens, with the eggs sold via an honesty box.

A woman curtsies in front of Queen Camilla, Honorary Air Commodore, during her visit to RAF Leeming, Northallerton (Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

In a poly-tunnel, families grow a wide range of produce from tomatoes and courgettes to peppers and herbs.

Camilla chatted to radar engineer Kyle Hewitt and spoke to his three children about the vegetables grown on the base.

Queen Camilla, Honorary Air Commodore, meets a volunteer in the allotment during her visit RAF Leeming, Northallerton (Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

“They taste much better if you pull them up and cook them, much better than shop-bought carrots,” she said.

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The base is home to a squadron training Qatari airmen alongside UK pilots, the 90 Signals Unit, a cyber-security team, and the Counter Uncrewed Air System (C-UAS), which targets drones and has been working with the French authorities during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Camilla met representatives from 11 Squadron QEAF (Qatar Emiri Air Force), who performed a flypast, and others from the 90 Signals Unit and C-UAS.

Queen Camilla, Honorary Air Commodore, is presented flowers from local nursery school children, during her visit to RAF Leeming, Northallerton (Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

Radar technician Liam Barsby organises the wellness project and explained: “It makes things a lot better, gives you a lot of things to do in the week and is really positive for your wellbeing.”