THE Prince of Wales is today attending a special service at Salisbury Cathedral celebrating the Army Air Corps' 60th anniversary.

Prince Charles, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps (AAC), arrived by helicopter after officers from the Army Air Corps marched into the Cathedral Close. 

The presentation and consecration of the new Guidon and the ceremonial laying to rest of the old Guidon took place in front of Salisbury Cathedral, the AAC’s Regimental church.

Prince Charles inspected the troops and the new Guidon was blessed and presented to him. 

Addressing the crowd and the soldiers, Prince Charles said: "It's 24 years now since I presented your first Guidon in a rather splendid parade at Middle Wallop. 

"Over 600 soldiers had flown in, wave after wave.

"It's also 10 years since we gathered to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee in the shadow of this magnificent cathedral."

He spoke about the advances the AAC had made in that time including using Apache and Wildcat helicopters and advanced equipment.

He said: "Army Air Corps officers remain amongst the best."

Prince Charles offered "heartfelt admiration and gratitude" to the families of the soldiers, adding: "I'm much aware of the mixed emotions of pride and concern.

"I have no doubt that it's the unfaltering support of those at home that allows our soldiers to cope so well when the going gets tough."

The speech was followed by a fly past of helicopters. There will now be special service.

Serving personnel, veterans and schoolchildren were also in attendance to watch a parade of marching AAC troops, led by the Band & Bugles of the Rifles.

Afterwards a group of helicopters flew over the Cathedral and there was a traditional military Drumhead Serivce conducted by the Chaplain General of the Army.

Prince Charles along with AAC soldiers and their families then attended a special service of Thanksgiving led by the Dean of Salisbury, June Osborne.

Members of the public got the chance to shake the Prince's hand outside the Cathedral.

One man, Mike from Hampton, said he had met Prince Charles previously as his son was a member of the Army Air Corps.

"He's a really nice fellow," he said. "I said it was nice to meet him again and he just asked if I got to see my son much - and I said we didn' really."

Colonel Richard Green, who has served with the AAC for more than 30 years, said the celebration was "fantastic".

"We're celebrating two things today - our Diamond Jubilee, but secondly to get a new Guidon from our Colonel in Chief, our Prince of Wales. "

Charles presented the first Guidon in 1994. 

Col Green said: "It's great to see a lot of serving members of the corps coming together to celebrate, to meet each other, to look back and look forward - and to have a bit of pomp and circumstance.

"It's really about the people, and getting them together to celebrate.

"The AAC has been involved with all the major operations of the British Army. In that time our equipment has improved considerably.

"I'm immensely proud of where the AAC has come from and where we are now."

The Mayor of Salisbury, John Lindley said it was "impressive" and "awesome" to host the Prince of Wales.

He said: "It really joins the city and the corps together. It's a very great honour for the city to have this happen here."

A group of students from Salisbury Cathedral School had a "fantastic time" at the celebration, according to head of pastoral care Duncan Hodson.

He said: "I think the children are just a bit blown away by it all, they just couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"They didn't know they were coming until today, it was a big surprise for them this morning."

The AAC is the British Army’s Combat Aviation Arm and its soldiers operate and fly the Apache Attack Helicopter and the Wildcat Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter.

Prince Charles took on the position of Colonel-in-Chief of the AAC in 1992 and in 2014 Prince Harry completed an attachment with the Corps as a helicopter pilot. 

In recognition of the service given by AAC personnel on operations in Malaya, Borneo, Aden, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, the Balkans, Libya and Afghanistan, as well as disaster relief in the Far East and the Philippines, Her Majesty The Queen has granted the Corps a new Guidon flag.