The Princess Royal delighted Army and RAF personnel in Oxfordshire yesterday after flying in for a tour of their bases.

Her first stop was St David's Barracks, near Bicester, where she met soldiers from the Royal Logistic Corps. She then took to the air in a Royal Flight helicopter to travel to RAF Brize Norton, to meet service and civilian staff during a two-and-a-half hour visit.

Personnel, some of whom had cancelled leave to meet the Princess, said they felt honoured the Royal visitor had taken the effort to talk to so many of them.

At the barracks, the home of 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, Princess Anne officially opened a £2.3m annexe for the sergeants' mess.

She also inspected a newly-built motor transport park and heard about preparations for the regiment's deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

On arrival at Brize Norton, the Princess was met by the station commander, Group Captain Malcolm Brecht, then saw a flypast by a VC10 refuelling plane.

The Princess laughed and pointed at her helicopter pilot, Capt Nick Kidd, who jumped as the plane roared overhead, taking him by surprise.

The Princess met flight crews involved in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq - including the crew of a 99 Squadron Boeing C17 transport plane.

Among those who met her on board the plane was Dee Dickinson, a civilian office manager from Carterton, who was lying on a trolley, pretending to be an injured servicewoman, connected to a fluid drip.

She said: "It was great to meet her - even though I was lying down. She asked how it felt, and asked if I'd volunteered to do this. I spent one-and-a-half hours on the trolley - but I have enjoyed it."

After meeting some of the aircrews and support staff, she was shown around the Parachute Training School and joined about 90 personnel for a buffet on board a C17.

Gp Capt Brecht said: "We're delighted. It means an awful lot to us. We're a busy operational station, and to have her visit us is recognition of what we do."