Prince Charles stopped off at the Castlebank Road barracks - headquarters of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse squadron - during a whirlwind tour of eastern Scotland on Tuesday.
The Prince, who was welcomed into the TA centre with the skirl of the pipes played by Cupar man Tom Lorimer, was accompanied by Sir Robert Spencer-Nairn, vice Lord Lieutenant of Fife, who introduced him to Honorary Colonel John Gilmour, commanding officer of the Queen's Own Yeomanry, Fife's Deputy Chief Constable David Mellor, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hardy Rolls and Major Miles Hutchinson.
Wearing the Queen's Own Yeomanry tie and the Stewart tartan, the Prince of Wales was then shown a demonstration of the army's gun retraining system, which involves using lasers to practice hitting different targets, by eight members of the armoured reconnaisance troop
Cupar's young army cadets, who share the centre with the TA and Cupar Air Training Corps, also put on a polished perfomance in front of their royal visitor. Kelly Combes (14) admitted to feeling a "wee bit nervous" about chatting to the Prince, but she and her fellow cadets, all Bell Baxter pupils, agreed he had been "very nice".
Members of Cupar ATC, who had spent more than two days preparing for the visit, impressed their guest with a display of Duke of Edinburgh Award equipment and one member even inflated his lifejacket in a demonstration for the Prince.
Describing the visit as a "great privilege", Commanding Officer Euan Barbour said that in his 32 years of being in the ATC it has not been visited by a member of the Royal family. He added: "It was great that he took time to speak to all of the cadets."
Equally impressed by the time the Prince spent chatting, Warrant Officer Grace McGuiness, of Cupar, said he asked her how she managed to keep all of the cadets under control. Grace said: "I told him I just have to raise my voice a little and they do what they're told!"
She added her thanks to Bell Baxter rector Douglas Campbell, who as well as giving the Flight's 18 cadets the day off, is also an active supporter of ATC recruitment drives.
The Prince then moved into the drill hall where he was able to meet various groups including the centre's civilian staff including mechanics, armourers and cleaners. Staff member Bob Wilson said the Prince, who is Royal Honorary Colonel of the Queen's Own regiment, seemed very interested in Operation Telic and the effect on the centre when many of the soldiers were serving in Iraq during the war.
He also met Gulf veterans and their wives who said they all greatly appreciated the support the Prince has shown them recently and said it he seemed "very interested" and "very down to earth".
Local members of the Regimental Association, including members of Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Association, were next to receive the Royal visitor. Amongst the ex-servicemen the Prince spoke to were the Association's oldest member 90-year-old Davie Cairns, who told him about his five years in Burma, as well as Methil man Harold Brown whose grandson Paul (20) is serving with the squadron.
Speaking on behalf of the Association, Dave Carstairs, chairman of Cupar Community Council, said they were "privileged and honoured" to speak to the Prince.
The Prince's visit concluded with a presentation of medals - Major Hutchinson was presented with a Territorial Decoration while a Volunteer Reserve Medal Clasp was presented to Sergeant Alec Nairn.