I held the rank of colonel last year

Kate Middleton participates in military training for the first time

Princess Kate Middleton in military uniform. A.B

Dressed in camouflage, the Princess of Wales braved snowy and freezing conditions while treating an injured Irish Guard soldier at an exercise in Salisbury Blaine. Kate Middleton, a royal colonel, is visiting the troops for the first time since receiving the honorary appointment last year. She took the title from her husband, Prince William, who became crown prince.

In the exercises, members of the Irish Guard First Battalion were on foot patrol when they came under fire from "enemies". The exercise involved a soldier being shot in the lower left leg and evacuated by his colleagues. Princess Corporal Jodie Newell assisted in providing first aid. A blindfold was set up to stop the bleeding; the soldier was then taken on a stretcher, where the princess helped assess his injury.

The Princess was taken on a tour of the Salisbury Blaine Training Area by Major General Christopher Geka, Area Commander of the Royal Army, and Lieutenant Colonel James Aldridge, Commander of the First Battalion of the Irish Guard.

Kate, wearing brown Berghaus shoes, heard firsthand about recent work by battalion members, including soldiers deployed on security missions in Africa, which include training park rangers in anti-poaching operations.

The princess, dressed in green combat uniforms, also received a briefing on anti-explosive munitions and demining training provided by the Irish Guard to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Finally, I saw many different weapons used by the Irish Guards. Commanders in the Irish Guard said they were delighted with the princess's visit, and it is particularly appropriate on International Women's Day for a number of our female soldiers to meet such an inspiring female model, and the command statement continued: "It is a real honour for all soldiers to meet their Royal Colonel (Kate Middleton) in the field here in Salisbury-Plaine, and to demonstrate some of their essential operational skills.

The Irish Guard, established by Queen Victoria in 1900, is made up of experts in ground combat. Their specialties include reconnaissance, targeting enemy forces with machine guns and mortars, and anti-tank operations.

Princess Kate Middleton, dressed in a green combat uniform, received a briefing on the explosive munitions.