The sound of drums echoed through the streets when the British military’s most decorated regiment marched through High Barnet.

Emotions ran high as thousands turned out to show their support for the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment yesterday morning.

There was a sea of red, white and blue as thousands of children and adults waved Union flags as the soldiers paraded past.

Billie Foster, who was born into a forces family, was the first to show her support to the war heroes.

She said: “I am a very military-minded person. They give up their lives for us and it’s important we respect that.

“It’s great so many people have turned up to support them today.

“I am very passionate about it all because my father fought in the First World War and my husband also joined the army.”

Many sang along to the tune of To Be a Farmer's Boy, the regiment’s marching theme, and others cheered and clapped as the soldiers passed by.

Also known as the Tigers, the regiment was given freedom of the borough of Barnet in 1998 after it succeeded the Queen’s Regiment.

Trevor Canton, the chairman of the Queen’s Regimental Association Middlesex Branch, said: “It is always amazing when people come down to support our troops - they play such an important role.

“The atmosphere today was inspirational and emotional.

“It was a great way to show the public what our army does and to see them exercise their freedom of the borough.”

Four-year-old Skye Long added: “I waved my flag at the soldiers to say thank you for fighting for us.”