During the visit he met Army Air Corps veteran Nathan Rooke who described his proudest moment in the service as performing royal duties at Buckingham Palace.

CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy said, “The New Belvedere House makeover project is the largest single investment of money, human resource and community engagement in the charity’s history and it is on track to deliver a facility that will change the way people think about hostels.

“The Duke of Edinburgh has attended all of our Carol Concerts but this is the first time he has seen how money raised by donors and supporters translates into delivery of practical help. We were delighted and honoured when he accepted our invitation to visit.”

Phase One of the flagship hostel’s £7m upgrade and refurbishment was completed in January. This enabled 12 veterans from the main hostel to move into four flats, fitted out to the highest standards with the help of volunteers from Bloomberg and Habitat for Humanity.

Veterans Aid enjoys a 92 per cent success rate in transforming the lives of veterans in crisis, an achievement that has earned it accolades. The Centre for Social Justice described the charity as offering “a fully integrated approach that engages with the root issues of homelessness, providing accommodation whilst also arranging for training courses, counselling, or resolving any other issue, such as alcohol abuse, to ensure the future social integration of the veteran.

"Their programme of proactive intervention coupled with long-term commitment and support is designed to not only get veterans into housing, but into sustainable, long-term employment, and has enjoyed great success. The CSJ applauds this effective model and recommends its adoption for other charities engaged in all aspects of this often complicated transition experience.”

EDITORS NOTE: For further information contact Glyn Strong on 07806 920087 ( media@veterans-aid.net ) or Viola Dabrowska (media1@veterans-aid.net ). To learn more about Veterans Aid, its work and the New Belvedere House hostel project see: https://veterans-aid.net/campaigns/

In 2015 Veterans Aid:

- Provided 22,000 nights of accommodation for homeless ex-servicemen and women in crisis.

- Put 184 into suitable long-term homes; 79 into major skills training and education and 64 into employment or work placements.

- Paid for 48 veterans to receive addiction treatment

- Dealt with 389 new clients

- Took 285 calls relating to Foreign & Commonwealth veterans

It costs Veterans Aid:

- £8.5k per year to support one veteran in its New Belvedere House hostel

- £1.6k (on average) to rehome one client

- £2.5k to put one veteran through alcohol detox; £4.8 through opiate detox; £6.6 through residential rehab. A further £1.5k per client is typically spent on aftercare.

Nathan Rooke:

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=soIf6XB1K5Y&feature=youtu.be