Samantha Cameron yesterday hailed the “incredible” optimism and bravery of injured troops who she met during a recent visit to the Headley Court rehabilitation centre in the UK.

The Prime Minister’s wife was talking about her work as a patron of the charity Tickets for Troops, which offers free tickets to art, music and sport events for members of the armed forces.

She said she was “honoured and humbled” to be asked to give her backing to the charity and delighted to be joined as a patron by Christina Schmid, whose husband Olaf died defusing a roadside bomb in Afghanistan last year.

Ms Cameron told forces broadcaster BFBS TV: “She’s an inspiration to so many people - to us at the charity and to the troops and their families.

“It’s incredible to see her determination and bravery. Over the last year or so what she’s done to support families has really been incredible.”

Ms Cameron said her recent visit to the Headley Court defence medical rehabilitation centre in Surrey had been “awe-inspiring”. The centre provides intensive medical treatment, psychological support and therapy to injured troops, many of whom have lost limbs in battle.

“Seeing some of the injuries and how soldiers overcome them is incredible,” said Ms Cameron.

“To see their optimism, their bravery is really quite uplifting.

“I just hope that the more people we can ensure hear about Tickets for Troops, the more families will take up tickets for shows and sporting events and I hope that then through that they will then understand how much the institutions and people in this country value what they do for us and how much we support them.”