THE Royal Welsh Regiment was officially granted the freedom of Blaenau Gwent yesterday after proposals were unanimously agreed by councillors.
Council leader Des Hillman formally proposed to award the honorary freedom of the county borough to the Royal Welsh at an extraordinary meeting of Blaenau Gwent council in Ebbw Vale Civic Centre.
The motion was agreed by all councillors, and gives the regiment the "honour, distinction and privilege" of marching through the streets of the county.
The Royal Welsh will exercise this right for the first time on February 19, when soldiers from the regiment will parade through Ebbw Vale town centre.
Speaking at the meeting, Major Tim Weedon of the Royal Welsh said the regiment was "honoured" and "grateful" to be given the freedom of the county.
He said: "It means an awful lot to our soldiers."
The parade through Ebbw Vale will start at 11.30am from the steel clock on February 19.
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