APRIL 4: THE Princess Royal visited a Royal Air Force base on Monday to offer support to those whose loved ones are serving in Iraq.

She met personnel and their families at RAF Lyneham, at Chippenham, where she is the Honorary Air Commodore.

She congratulated one woman who is making thousands of yellow ribbons for people to wear in support of those who have been sent to the Gulf.

Beverley Isaac, 37, from Maesteg, Wales, whose husband, senior aircraftsman Huw Isaac, 38, is due to be deployed with 4626 Auxiliary Medical Squadron, said: "We just want to drum up some support for the lads. Someone mentioned the ribbons on the RAF's Internet chatroom recently and so I just offered to make them for people."

Tracy Wood, 31, whose husband, Cpl Jason Wood, 33, is based in Kuwait, said: "We want to show our husbands and partners out in the Gulf that there is a lot of backing for them."

About 700 personnel have been deployed to the Gulf from RAF Lyneham. The base is home to the Hercules aircraft which will be used to drop aid.

Karen Wilson, 37, who is looking after her son Robert, nine, and daughter Charlotte, six, while her husband, Sgt Rob Wilson, 37, is away with 4626 Auxiliary Medical Squadron said: "We miss them, but I know it is difficult for them they have all had to get rid of their personal effects in case they are captured so they don't even have any letters from their families."