As the world mourns the death of Princess Margaret, Bermuda Regiment soldiers past and present will carry a special grief this week for the Royal who also served as their Colonel in Chief.

Last night former commanders and local leaders spoke highly of the Princess, who's long relationship with Regiment began in 1965 when she presented the first Colours to the newly integrated army.

"I see with very great pleasure that your regiment is formed with people from all walks of life," Princess Margaret said that year as two racially segregated units - the white Bermuda Volunteer Rifles and the black Bermuda Militia Artillery - amalgamated.

"All of you, its first members, have opportunity and responsibility. You can set an example of goodwill, of unity and comradeship, not only to the future members of your regiment but to your country - and the world."

"I was very proud on that occasion," former Honorary Commander of Regiment Michael Darling told The Royal Gazette last night.

Mr. Darling was commander of the Rifles when the two units integrated. He said Princess Margaret presented the Colours very soon after the decision was made to join the units, explaining the two separate units had worked together for the first time during the BELCO riots of that year.

"After that, it became clear there should only be one uniform, one unit," he said. "The way it was organised was ridiculous."

Over 6,000 people gathered in the former National Stadium on the November night when Princess Margaret officially oversaw the creation of Regiment.

As she presented the Colours, Regiment in turn presented the Princess with a diamond and platinum broach in the shape of the Regiment badge.

"The two units amalgamated very successfully and satisfactorily and we've gone forward from there," Mr. Darling said of the historic moment.

The Princess returned to the Island to mark the tenth and 25th anniversaries of Regiment in 1975 and 1990. Her symbolic leadership of Regiment received a special prominence in her many official visits to the Island.

"I found her to be very pleasant," said Mr. Darling. "She was very particularly interested in the Regiment and on several occasions she took the time to meet with more junior ranks. She was fine."

Sir John Swan - who served as Premier during Princess Margaret's last two visits to Bermuda in 1984 and 1990 - said last night she would be missed among those in Bermuda fortunate to know her.

"She was very fond of Bermuda," Sir John said. "She always expressed a keen interest in what Bermuda was doing."

On a personal level, Sir John said the Princess was a highly private individual who recognised the importance of her role in the Royal family.

"She was a person who cherished her privacy and guarded her domain in terms of realising she had a role to play and that role was not that of her sister," he said.

"She had a role to play to uphold the Royal family and played it in a manner that deprived her of the freedom to be herself but she recognised she was the sister of the Queen."

On her visit to the Island in 1990, Princess Margaret oversaw the change of Regiment command from Lt. Col Gavin Shorto to Lt. Col. Allan Rance.

"She was a very pleasant and gracious person," Mr. Rance recalled fondly last night.

Although she had a ceremonial role with Regiment, the Princess made time from many other public appearances during her eight official visits between 1955 and 1990.

Princess Margaret unveiled the statue of Sir George Somers in St. George's during the 375th anniversary of the Sea Venture shipwreck in 1984 and officially opened the Arts Centre at Dockyard in 1990.

She twice delivered Government's annual Throne Speech and even found time to visit Harrington Sound school and plant a tree although her whirlwind visits were as short as six hours (in 1965) and as long as four or five days.

"My experiences with her were always very uplifting," said Sir John. "She was always very engaging in the conversations we had.

Government House will have a Book of Condolence available this morning for members of the public who wish to sign their condolences.

Princess Margaret died Saturday at the age of 71. Her two children - Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto - were at her side.

A private funeral for the Royal family will be held at St. George's Chapel later this week and an official Memorial Service will be held at Westminster Abbey at a later date.