Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex travelled to Germany last week to make her inaugural visit to The 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) in her role as Royal Colonel.

The 2-day visit was to introduce the Countess to her Battalion, based in Alanbrooke Barracks, Paderborn, as it prepares for possible military operational duties in the near future.

It was Sophie’s first royal engagement since the birth of her son, Viscount Severn, last December.

The Countess made a great impression as she met the soldiers, witnessing their training at first hand and even taking an impromptu ride in one of the Battalion’s Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles.

Afterwards she told the troops: “I’m sorry for asking some really basic questions, but thank you very much indeed for your patience.  Good luck with everything and I really look forward to seeing you again next year.”

On Wednesday evening the Countess was the guest of honour at a Regimental Dinner night hosted by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Chamberlain, and the Officers of the 5th Battalion.

During the remainder of her visit she met with families, visiting some of them in their homes as well as touring some of the single soldiers’ accommodation.

The Countess of Wessex also presented Meritorious, Accumulated Service, and Long Service and Good Conduct medals to a number of the Battalions’ more senior members.

Lt Col Chamberlain said: “It is a great honour for the Battalion to welcome the Countess of Wessex as The Royal Colonel for the first time.

“This visit has been about her meeting the soldiers of her Battalion and to get a feel for what we do.  She has met her new family and I have asked her to act as our ‘godmother’ – she has graciously agreed to take that role on.”

The driver of the Warrior that Sophie had temporarily commanded, 22-year-old Rifleman David Meldrum, said: “I only knew 5 minutes before that I would be driving The Countess.  I thought I was just there to get the Warrior in the right place.

“The Countess was giving me all the directions over the headset and I just did exactly what she said.  She is the first person I have met from the Royal family and she is very nice and very chatty.”

Section Commander Corporal Colin Hands, 28, added: “She was very interested to see what the men had to carry.  She was asking how heavy it was and seemed amazed at how much we had to take with us. 

“She really was genuinely interested and it wasn’t a bluff at all.  She is really down to earth and will be a good ambassador for the Battalion.”

The Rifles Regiment was formed in February 2007 from the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry, The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets.

5 RIFLES is the Regiment’s armoured infantry battalion based in Paderborn as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade.