Princess Royal in ceremony at RAF Cosford

Princess Anne presented the Queen's Colour to the No 1 School of Technical Training aircraft engineering school at RAF Cosford as well as giving the station commander the Firmin Sword of Peace.

The ceremonial event included 350 trainees from the base on parade.

The Queen's Colour is the highest award the Queen can bestow on a service formation or unit and was first presented to the school when it was based at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire, in July 1952.

It has since been re-presented in 1968 and 1990, so today's ceremony was its third re-presentation and its first at Cosford after the school moved there in 1993.

Wing commander Mark Harding, head of the school, was actually present as a trainee at the presentation in 1990 by the Duke of Kent.

He said: "This time I get to stand as head of the school which is quite nice.

"There is a lot of effort which goes in to the school so to have the Princess presenting the colour to us is a great honour.

"If you get to speak to anybody outside they understand the importance of it because it happens so infrequently."

The colour is unique as it is the only one which is paraded by non-commissioned servicemen.

Sergeant apprentice FMA Hines, who received the first colour in 1952, was also set to attend to see the representation.

The ceremonial event was not open to the general public but a number of civic and local representatives were invited to attend.

The Firmin sword of peace was being presented to RAF Cosford for its work building good relations with the local community.

It was actually awarded in 2012 but this was the first opportunity there has been to have it officially presented.

Station commander, Group Captain Adam Sanson, said that, despite wet weather, he was delighted with the presentation.

"In the military we do things regardless of the weather," he said. "The rain hasn't dampened our spirits."