UK troops around world receive Christmas boxes

UK troops around the world have received their Christmas boxes as they prepare to spend the festive period away from home.

Charity UK4U sent out 8,500 Christmas boxes to all those deployed on operations.

From Sierra Leone to Cyprus, every serviceman and woman away from their loved ones will receive a gift on behalf of the British public.

This year also marks 100 years since the very first festive boxes were sent to all ‘wearing the King’s uniform’ at Christmas 1914.

Princess Mary, daughter of King George V, set up The Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund, which distributed 355,000 boxes from 1914 to the summer of 1916.

Over 200,000 boxes have been distributed by UK4U since it was established in 2005.