Kate Middleton meets Kabul evacuation heroes at RAF Brize Norton

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived by helicopter at RAF Brize Norton this afternoon to meet military personnel and civilians who helped evacuate Afghans from their country last month.

Kate chatted to those who took part in Operation Pitting, which saw more than 15,000 people airlifted out of Kabul, including thousands of Arap (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) applicants and their dependents.

The royal, who was wearing a Reiss ‘Larsson’ double-breasted twill blazer worth £285 and holding a £295 Tusting ‘Holly’ mini bag, arrived in the G-XXEB (The Queen’s Helicopter Flight) Sikorsky S-76 helicopter at about 2.15pm.  

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet those who supported the evacuation from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the emergency services and armed forces at RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the emergency services and armed forces at RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

Kate smiles as she arrives at Brize Norton today to meet those who supported the UK's evacuation of civilians from Kabul

Kate smiles as she arrives at Brize Norton today to meet those who supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Kabul

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles a visit to RAF Brize Norton to meet military personnel who helped evacuate Afghans

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles a visit to RAF Brize Norton to meet military personnel who helped evacuate Afghans

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at RAF Brize Norton to meet members of Britain's armed forces this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at RAF Brize Norton to meet members of Britain’s armed forces this afternoon

The Duchess arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet those are supported the UK's evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

The Duchess arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet those are supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a member of the armed forces during a visit to RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a member of the armed forces during a visit to RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as she speaks to military personnel

Kate at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as she speaks to military personnel at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today

Kate smiles as her hair is blown in the wind as she meets military personnel at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this morning

Kate smiles as her hair is blown in the wind as she meets military personnel at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this morning

The Duchess of Cambridge learns about the UK's evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan, at RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge learns about the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan, at RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge walks today with a member of the armed forces to meet those involved in the evacuation

The Duchess of Cambridge walks today with a member of the armed forces to meet those involved in the evacuation

More than 850 people arrived at the RAF base in Oxfordshire during the evacuation in August and were provided practical support such as food, clothing, children’s toys and medical help while their details were processed.

During her visit, the Duchess met RAF aircrews and medics who supported evacuees at Kabul Airport and civilians and volunteers who established a repatriation centre at RAF Brize Norton.

Operation Pitting involved every unit at the military base, with personnel working alongside the Royal Navy, Army, local authorities and aid organisations in Afghanistan and the UK.

Brize Norton’s full fleet of RAF transport aircraft flew around the clock to support the evacuation, including a record flight for an RAF C17 Globemaster which carried 439 passengers out of Kabul.

Kate smiles as she meets a member of the armed forces during her visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

Kate smiles as she meets a member of the armed forces during her visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel today

Kate visits RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles during a visit to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon to hear about the evacuation

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles during a visit to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon to hear about the evacuation

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet those who supported the evacuation from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet those who supported the evacuation from Afghanistan

Kate will chat today to those who took part in Operation Pitting, which saw more than 15,000 people airlifted out of Kabul

Kate will chat today to those who took part in Operation Pitting, which saw more than 15,000 people airlifted out of Kabul 

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Brize Norton to meet those who supported the UK's evacuation of civilians from Kabul

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Brize Norton to meet those who supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Kabul

The Duchess of Cambridge steps out of a car today as she meets military personnel during a visit to RAF Brize Norton

The Duchess of Cambridge steps out of a car today as she meets military personnel during a visit to RAF Brize Norton

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet RAF aircrews and medics who supported evacuees at Kabul Airport

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet RAF aircrews and medics who supported evacuees at Kabul Airport

Kate meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

Kate meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet those who supported the UK's evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet those who supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

Kate arrives at Brize Norton

Kate walks through Brize Norton today

Kate arrives at Brize Norton this afternoon to meet those who supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton today to meet meet military personnel and civilians

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton today to meet meet military personnel and civilians

Aircraft involved in the operation also carried supplies ranging from clothing and baby food for the evacuees.

Earlier this week the Government confirmed people who are considered most at risk under the Taliban will be able to resettle permanently in the UK, as Ministers outlined Afghan funding support.

Indefinite leave to remain will be granted to those Afghans who worked with the British government and military – under a scheme known as the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap).

But Home Office minister Victoria Atkins also confirmed up to 20,000 refugees expected to arrive under the Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme (ACRS) will also have the same ‘certainty of status’.

Kate Middleton arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet meet military personnel and civilians who helped evacuate Afghans

Kate Middleton arrives at RAF Brize Norton today to meet meet military personnel and civilians who helped evacuate Afghans

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the RAF base today

Kate arrives at RAF Brize Norton

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the RAF base today to meet those who supported the evacuation from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet those who supported the UK's evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives today to meet those who supported the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

A member of the Royal Air Force speaks to the Duchess of Cambridge during her visit to RAF Brize Norton today

A member of the Royal Air Force speaks to the Duchess of Cambridge during her visit to RAF Brize Norton today

The Duchess of Cambridge visits RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today to meet people who helped with the evacuation

The Duchess of Cambridge visits RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today to meet people who helped with the evacuation

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess of Cambridge meets military personnel as she arrives for a visit to RAF Brize Norton this afternoon

The Duchess is learning today about how more than 15,000 people were flown out of Kabul by the Royal Air Force

The Duchess is learning today about how more than 15,000 people were flown out of Kabul by the Royal Air Force

Kate arrives today to learn more about Operation Pitting, the largest humanitarian aid operation for over 70 years

Kate arrives today to learn more about Operation Pitting, the largest humanitarian aid operation for over 70 years

The Duchess arrives in the G-XXEB (The Queen's Helicopter Flight) Sikorsky S-76 helicopter at Brize Norton today

The Duchess arrives in the G-XXEB (The Queen’s Helicopter Flight) Sikorsky S-76 helicopter at Brize Norton today

The helicopter lands as the Duchess of Cambridge visits RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

The helicopter lands as the Duchess of Cambridge visits RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon

A full plane of 265 people supported by Britain's Armed Forces on board an evacuation flight out of Kabul on August 21

A full plane of 265 people supported by Britain’s Armed Forces on board an evacuation flight out of Kabul on August 21

Members of the UK Armed Forces taking part in the evacuation of people from Kabul Airport in Afghanistan on August 20

Members of the UK Armed Forces taking part in the evacuation of people from Kabul Airport in Afghanistan on August 20

Members of the British and US military are pictured working together on August 20 to help to evacuate people out of Kabul

Members of the British and US military are pictured working together on August 20 to help to evacuate people out of Kabul

Both groups will have the option to apply for British citizenship after five years. Local authorities will receive £20,000 per person to provide support to resettled Afghans under ‘Operation Warm Welcome’.

Boris Johnson insisted earlier this month that it had been ‘clear for many months’ that the Taliban could seize power quickly in Afghanistan – just hours after Dominic Raab suggested the opposite.

The Foreign Secretary had told reporters that no one in Government could have predicted the speed of the Taliban’s victory, adding that the intelligence claimed Kabul would not fall in August.

But the Prime Ministers’ words appeared to support the position of Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said in an interview that he knew ‘the game was up’ in Afghanistan in July – a month before Kabul fell.

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