His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, Duke of York has made a flying visit to HMAS Albatross.
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As well as spending a day with Royal Australian Navy personnel while in Sydney, Prince Andrew made a special visit to Albatross presenting two medals to local personnel.
He presented a Defence Long Service clasp to Petty Officer Greg Hodgson and a Defence Medal to Able Seaman Karl De Tarkczynski.
Prince Andrew also visited 808 and 816 Squadrons, addressing personnel from 808 Squadron.
While at Albatross he also met with families of deployed members and some legatee children who were undertaking a camp at the base.
It was a complete surprise to the legatee kids and coordinators, who were only told about 10 minutes prior of the Royal visit.
Prince Andrew flew to the Nowra air station in an 808 Squadron's MRH-90 Taipan helicopter from Victoria Barracks in Sydney and later flew in the port side pilot's seat of 816 Squadron's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
He followed that up with a visit to the bridge simulator at HMAS Watson and the latest edition to the fleet, guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart.
A flight jacket he wore during his visit is believed to be going to the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Prince andrew is not the first Royal to visit the local area.
Edward the Prince of Wales visited HMAS Creswell in June 1920, Lord Louis Mountbatten toured HMAS Albatross and took a flight in a glider on April 9, 1956 and Prince Phillip visited Albatross and Creswell on November 21, 1956.
More recently in February 1981, then Lady Diana Spencer spent a summer month at Mollymook. The 19-year-old – already secretly engaged to the heir of the throne – spent time at a Spencer hideout: a beach house near Mollymook Golf Club. She would soon become Princess Diana, and eventually the most photographed woman in the world.