Kate Middleton Had "Very Personal" Discussions With Those Who Assisted in the Afghanistan Evacuation
The Duchess of Cambridge was back to engagements after a summer break today, resuming her duties with a notable and moving visit. Kate spent time at RAF Brize Norton with military personnel and those who assisted them in their work evacuating civilians from Afghanistan after the Taliban gained control.
The Duchess went on board one of the aircraft that was used and listened to some harrowing and uplifting stories of the evacuation. “For us there’s a lot of necessary catharsis. We need to share our stories and we need to get them out,” Wing Commander Calvin Bailey, who was in charge of the operation and flew several missions, said. He also described how some of the military personnel were able to have “very personal” discussions with Kate that “would never leave that crowd.”
“She's so engaging and she's so lovely. She wanted to show that she had knowledge and understanding of the planes. We knew some people her husband worked with and they got in touch. And there was one guy who was part of the course behind her husband. So, you know, there's an instant connection there and they want to tell their story. They want to say, this is hard. I did this. This is what I feel proud about. And she gave that to them today.”
Wing Commander Bailey recalled the struggle of “emotions and challenges of crews landing on an airfield that was being overrun by people” and shared the toll that the operation took on those involved. He described how the Duchess was interested in discussions “about people,” adding she wanted to know about “the experience down the back of the plane, trying to picture what 460 people was like down there, what state they were in. How did they feel, talking about children, which seemed to connect to her. Being able to tap into the right thing is an art.”
Wing Commander Kevin Latchman, who flew three planes out of Kabul, also met the Duchess. “It was fantastic to be honest. The operation itself is a brilliant example of when we all come together, what we can deliver. And the fact that’s been recognized on the royal level, is brilliant and it was lovely to meet the Duchess of Cambridge, very personable and clearly very interested in what we did,” he said. Recalling his role in PITTING, which saw more than 15,000 people flown out of Kabul by the Royal Air Force, with more than 850 arriving at RAF Brize Norton, he said, “The sight down the back of the airplane was phenomenal. A crowd of faces, and there was so many children, like half of all of those flights were with children and small babies. And, you know, those children were just like our children getting on board a massive airplane, they were really excited. Whereas the adults were all more relieved, shocked and scared and wondering what was happening next.”
He described the Duchess as “very sympathetic, and she wanted to know exactly what were the reactions of the people coming on board.” Sgt Mark Curtis, who was in charge of the evacuees on the plane, described the experience as “humbling.” He said, “I've got two children myself and there were so many children, babies. You could see the adults were sort of stopping short of the ramp, turning around and realizing they were leaving their home country for the last time with a single bag. It was really emotional to see it.”
Of meeting Kate, he added, “To meet the Duchess and for her to be so interested in and engaged with our stories was, was brilliant. We’re serving our queen, our country, the royal family. And obviously to have that level of, the boss coming along and, and patting you on your back for the hard work was amazing.”
Operation PITTING involved every unit based at RAF Brize Norton, and aircraft flew around the clock to support the evacuation.
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