PRINCESS Diana paid a morale boosting visit to families of troops in the Gulf in March 1991, and made a special friend in little Lucy Hay.

The smiling six-year-old presented the Princess of Wales with a posy of flowers to thank her for cheering up over 70 families at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks in South Cerney.

The Princess arrived by helicopter and was then taken to the officers mess to meet the families.

For more than an hour the Princess mingled with relatives on the base and was especially interested to hear about the soldiers still in the desert, including Lucy’s father, Major John Hay, who was serving with the 29 Transport and Movements Regiment.

Many of the servicemen and women from the base were the first out to the Gulf and were expected to be some of the last to return home.

Captain Iain Mckend of 29 RCT said: “Princess Diana was marvellous, she was totally natural and relaxed with everyone and was a particular hit with the children. Her visit has certainly done wonders for morale.”

Before leaving to spend the weekend at her Highgrove home near Tetbury, she also had time for a chat with Corporal Karen Emberson who had been back from the Gulf for three weeks and was waiting for her husband Rick to return too.

“She was very natural and fascinated to know what conditions were like out there”, said Karen.