Lt Col David Eastman’s blog from Afghanistan: Prince William visits troops for Remembrance Sunday

This has been the focus for most of my week, although much of it was last minute preparation, as I was unaware the Prince was attending until a few hours before – this is known in the military as ‘being flexible’.

Luckily everything seemed to go well from the media perspective, and even Afghan soldiers being presented to the Prince turned in on time despite the early hour. The BBC proved to be very easy to look after, although it is amazing how much equipment is required for them to film an event of this nature, with producers, cameramen and of course the reporters and presenter. I also had the privilege of being interviewed by George Alagiah for BBC Look North at the instigation of Mirfield councillor Martyn Bolt, whose tentacles manage to reach even the depths of deepest Helmand!

Despite being well-versed in modern technology, and considering myself a modern soldier (I do own an iTouch and a Kindle after all), I was still found gazing in mildly-suppressed childlike awe at the news screens displaying from the UK the Afghan ceremony I attended only a few minutes before. Our footage was almost immediately incorporated with footage from the Cenotaph and repeated and added to throughout the day. It really is a worldwide 24-hour instant news environment, which to me reinforces the significance of my role in ensuring the media does not accidentally give away information that could undermine the operational security of our troops.

Unfortunately, this Remembrance Sunday was made even more poignant with the loss of two more of our soldiers on the day itself - Ranger Aaron McCormick from 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, and a Lance Corporal from the Danish Army. Unfortunately, their names will join those of our previous fallen inscribed on the new memorial installed this week in Camp Bastion Three in preparation for the service. My thoughts were very much with their families on this particular Remembrance Day.

With most of the media in Helmand about to depart, I am now escaping back to the heady delights of Kabul for a meeting at the British Embassy. I may need to manage my expectations slightly, but I have high hopes that the accommodation there will be much more salubrious than the somewhat ramshackle hut I was put up in during my last visit. I’m not expecting a Ferrero Rocher, but a pillow might be nice!