HUNDREDS of soldiers who have recently returned from a six-month United Nations Peacekeeping tour in Cyprus have been praised for their exceptional professionalism.

The Royal Lancers, based at Cambrai Lines in Munster Barracks, Catterick Garrison, were presented with their medals on Thursday, October 25, at a special parade.

They had to patrol the buffer zone also known as the Green Line, that has divided the Turkish north and the Greek south for more than 40 years, during their deployment.

Around 450 soldiers from the regiment took part in the parade when 275 soldiers were awarded their UN medal. Brigadier (Retd) Andrew Hughes CBE, Colonel of the Regiment, praised the troops especially as it was their first tour since forming as The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth's Own) in 2016.