The Prince of Wales will be the guest of honour at a parade celebrating Kent's Gurkhas during their 25th anniversary year.

The next in line to the throne will meet with the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1RGR) at their home, the Sir John Moore Barracks in Shorncliffe, Folkestone, today.

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, Charles will present Operational Service Medals to the soldiers of 1RGR, members of the Parachute Regiment and other attached units.

They have all recently returned from a seven-month tour of Kabul on Operation TORAL - the UK’s contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Along with the presentation of medals by His Royal Highness to the front rank of approximately 40 personnel, senior officers will present to the subsequent ranks.

Another presentation will see Charles presents three major annual Regimental awards: The Prince of Wales’s Khukuri, the Tuker Award and the Slim Award.

He will then be decorated with a Mala, the traditional Nepalese flower garland around his neck, in the Regimental colours of green, black and red, before meeting with families.

This year marks the 25th year since the Royal Gurkha Rifles was formed from four Gurkha Rifles Regiments.

The 2nd Battalion is currently based in Brunei, and the reformation of a 3rd Battalion was announced earlier this year.

And to celebrate the anniversary, the Prince will be invited to cut a celebratory ‘silver anniversary’ cake specially baked by the Gurkhas’ own chefs.

The 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles returned from Kabul in May after seven months.

While there, they provided a ring of security around the NATO Coalition partners in several locations across the city.

In addition, they provided a safe military armed escort service to advisors and mentors using armoured vehicles.

To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

Read more: All the latest news from Kent