A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl in traditional Nepalese dress gave the Princess Royal a garland of flowers yesterday as she opened a Gurkha temple at an Army barracks.

Suista Gurung, the daughter of Staff Sergeant Surendra Gurung, gave the yellow and pink roses to Princess Anne before she opened the temple at the Imphal Army barracks, in York.

The Princess Royal placed her hands together and bowed her head as she received the flowers from Suista, who attends Fishergate School, York.

She wore the garland while watching members of the Gurkha Signals Squadron perform the traditional khukri warrior dance in their new temple.

Princess Anne smiled as she watched the Gurkhas perform the Jhyaure Dance, a mixture of two soldier dances and a village song, which is used to welcome guests.

Lance Corporal Rai Jagadish, who performed the medley for the Princess, said it had been a proud moment.

Major Ade Clewlow, the officer commanding 246 Gurkha Signal Squadron, said: "It is a tremendous honour, for the Gurkhas in particular, to get the opportunity to meet her.

"The fact that she has opened the temple as well is extra.''

During her visit, the Princess Royal presented medals to eight soldiers and opened a single-persons' accommodation block at Telic House and met some of the 74 residents.

Princess Anne, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Signals, also used the military's satellite equipment to talk to members of 2 Signal Regiment, who were away on operations.