Prince William pays tribute to ‘resilience’ of submariners
THE Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the “continued resilience” of the Royal Navy’s submariners and their families as he unveiled a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Prince William gave a short speech on the Submarine Service during the unveiling ceremony at the Staffordshire site yesterday, in which he said: “You would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging environment to serve in.”
The duke spoke of how the new monument “harnesses in physical form the struggles this life of service can lead to”.
During his visit, the prince met submariners, veterans, and some of their families, including that of Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, who was murdered on HMS Astute after it docked in Southampton in April 2011.
The Lt Commander’s widow, Gillian, told the duke the unveiling of the new memorial had been “emotional”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prince William said: “The Submarine Service has, for over 120 years, been at the forefront of our nation’s defence.
“However, to many it is an invisible force which is so often out of sight and out of mind.
“The risks and the sacrifices associated with such service are clear, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging environment to serve in.
“It is within this environment that some of our best men and women work, and live.”