BASRA, Iraq, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Britain's Duke of York and son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, paid a surprise visit to British forces deployed in Iraq, BBC Radio reported Sunday.
The radio said a helicopter flew Andrew, a colonel in the British army, to the southern Iraqi port city of Basra. The prince thanked the troops for "efforts to help the Iraqis rebuild their country and services you have given them."
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The BBC said during his brief visit, the prince also went to Missan north of Basra where 1,000 British troops are positioned, and inspected the military base there.
He also visited the Iraqi naval base in Umm Qasr, the radio added.
