William and Kate talk coronavirus and code breaking with veterans
Second World War generation. towns and cities across the land people stopped in their tracks to stand to attention or sat at home in quiet contemplation at 11am for the two-minute silence.
At the Balmoral War Memorial, close to the entrance of the Queen’s 53,000-acre Highland estate, a lone piper played as Charles and Camilla made their way towards the stone monolith.
Gun fire at Edinburgh Castle, 110 miles further south, signalled the beginning of the silence.
The Royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, stood in silent respect.
Charles, festooned with medals, wore a Hunting Stewart kilt with a Gordon Highlanders tie and lapel badge.
In the green dress of the 4 Rifles, the regiment of which she is Royal Colonel, and with a brooch representing her late father’s regiment – the 12th Royal Lancers – Camilla quivered with emotion.
Her father Major Bruce Shand was awarded the Military Cross twice and taken prisoner at El Alamein, Egypt, in 1942. Major Shand, who died in 2006, spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.
She had collected spring flowers from the garden at Birkhall, the Highland home where she and Charles have spent lockdown, and
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and Jean Hull, right manager Susan Barnes Charles Ward, left, with
placed them at the of the monument.
Her card read: “In memory of my darling father and all the officers and men of the XII Lancers who fought so bravely to give us peace. Camilla.”
The heir to the throne, deep in thought, laid a wreath with a card that read: “In everlasting remembrance, Charles.”
It was the cue for a day of commemorations across the country where. Despite the restrictions, bunting and patriotic flags went up in streets across the nation.
The RAF staged flypasts, foot with the Red Arrows soaring through the sky above Buckingham Palace and the London Eye, while Typhoon fighter jets flew over Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
At 3pm, millions of people joined in a tribute to those who served at home and abroad.
Called The Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of the Second World War, families raised a glass, cheered and clapped for those who gave so much. It saw young and old pay tribute to Britons whose determination enabled good to triumph over evil during the war. Yesterday’s extravaganzas captured
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke to residents at a British Legion care home and joined them in looking forward to Victory over Coronavirus Day in an online chat.
Kate told war veterans that their two older children, Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, five, had been learning the words to Dame Vera Lynn’s song, We’ll Meet Again as part of a school challenge. She said it had been “really lovely” having the tune playing every day.
The 38-year-old told former signaller James Pyett, 95, that George would be really honoured to speak to him as he is just learning about the history of the Second World War.
Sue Barnes, manager of the
the spirit of make do and mend, with communities determined to enjoy themselves at a safe distance.
For those who were unable to venture outside, technology brought the nation together as one.
Video enabled many to hold virtual street parties.
And households did their best to show their appreciation, even dressing up to hold their own 1940s tea parties.
TV viewers watched the day’s deeply moving events unfold on BBC One, which dedicated a seven-hour schedule to the commemorations. Exactly 75 years since the formal acceptance by the
Richard Palmer
care home, Mais House in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: “It would be lovely when we’ve won victory over coronavirus.” William agreed with James when he said: “That won’t be a VE Day, that will be a VC Day.”
The couple also spoke to Jean Hull, who remembered attending a VE Day party as a child, and code breaker Charles Ward, 101.
He revealed he once carefully deciphered a top secret message from Winston Churchill only to find it was a “happy birthday” greeting to his son.
William praised the efforts of the wartime generation saying everyone’s very proud of them.
Allies of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender, 96-yearold RAF veteran Bert Turner gave his thoughts.
The ex-airman, shot down twice during the war, summed up the unbreakable will and devotion to duty of his generation.
He said: “If I knew then what I know now, I would still do it all again.”
Culture Secretary Dowden hailed Bert “greatest generation”.
He said: “Everyone who served in the Second World War has a lot of wisdom to share as we face our own struggles today.”
Oliver and the