A guardsman whose busy life in the army meant he had to miss his baby son crawl for the first time has been honoured for his 15 years’ loyal military service.

Colour Sergeant Robert Owen, from Bicester, was presented with a long service medal by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The former Cooper School pupil and wife Heidi had their son Zac 14 months ago.

Although Mr Owen was at the birth, he has had to miss out on some of his boy’s most special milestones.

The 35-year-old soldier, said: “I can imagine as a young guy it is hard leaving family, but after 15 years you sort of become accustomed to it and your wife and family grow used to it as well.

“I missed him [son Zac] crawl for the first time, which was tough, but amazing when you come back and he’s doing new things.”

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Mr Owen, known to his friends as Lee, joined up in 1999 and has served with the Grenadier Guards across the world, including tours of duty in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

Moments that have stood out in his service include his two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

He said: “That is what you join the army for, to join and fight and do everything you trained for.”

He added about his first tour in 2007: “It was less hearts and minds and more fighting with the enemy.”

But his second tour (OH16) in 2012 was “all hearts and minds, the change between them was massive.

“In OH16 there were new houses built and it was more about the people rather than the fighting: building schools, bridges and water irrigation systems.”

The guardsman is currently on leave but will be back at his current base at the Oxford University Officer Training Corps headquarters in Oxpens Road next week and is likely to head back to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in Aldershot in six months’ time.

The Long Service and Good Conduct medal was presented to him by Prince Philip at Wellington Barracks in London. The Duke of Edinburgh is celebrating 40 years in the role of Colonel Grenadier Guards.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Grenadier Guards and there have been many highlights, but receiving my medal from Prince Philip was a special honour.

“He even said to me after the citation was read about me having a one-year-old son and that I must have some sleepless nights. It was just brilliant really.”