Anne presses ahead with Deepcut visit

Buckingham Palace officials said the planned visit to the Royal Logistic Corps barracks, in Surrey, next month will still go head.

Princess Anne's office has been asked to postpone the event until police have completed an investigation into the deaths of four soldiers.

Private Geoff Gray, who was born at Seaham, County Durham, died from two gunshot wounds to the head in September 2001 while he was based at the barracks.

Along with the families of Privates James Collinson, 17, of Perth, Cheryl James, 18, of Wales, and Sean Benton, 20, of Hastings, Pte Gray's parents, Diane and Geoff, want a public inquiry to be held into the deaths.

The families plan to hold a candlelit vigil and protest outside the camp when the Princess Royal visits on May 8.

She has been invited in her official capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistics Corps to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the camp, which is also known as Princess Royal barracks.

A spokesman for the Princess said: "The Princess has been invited to attend the tenth year anniversary of this particular regiment. It is not that she is meeting people and touring the facilities as such, there is a very specific reason for the visit.

"The Princess's office realises that people often demonstrate and we understand the reasons behind it.

"The Princess has had this invitation for some time and does not want to disappoint the people who have invited her.

"We are aware of the police investigation and that it is still ongoing, but she does not want to postpone or cancel because this inquiry has not yet given its findings."

Mr Gray said the families will stand outside the camp with large photographs of their children.

He said: "I have made my feelings know to Princess Anne's office and told them I do not think the visit is appropriate."

Independent forensics expert Frank Swann is continuing his inquiry into the deaths and is expected to reveal his findings in July.