Kensington Palace has released a new video of Prince William and Kate Middleton to commemorate Armed Forces Day on Saturday. The poignant video highlights the couple’s work over the past year, including snippets of both the Prince and Princess of Wales. It shows William meeting and speaking with veterans to mark the D-Day 80th anniversary earlier this month, and finishes with a shot of the iconic Red Arrows. Though none of the clips are new – as the princess is maintaining her recovery from cancer treatment away from the public eye – royal fans have hailed it as a ‘beautiful tribute’. The 40-second video was posted on Kensington Palace’s official social media accounts alongside the caption: ‘On ArmedForcesDay we thank all those serving in our military, in the UK and around the world, and the loved ones who support them in everything they do for our country.’
One clip shows William donning camouflage military gear in November as he visited The Mercian Regiment after being appointed Colonel-In-Chief by King Charles. The Prince of Wales was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment by the King last August, which provides the fighting element of the British Armed Forces. Meanwhile a clip of the Princess of Wales showed her visiting the Royal Navy Air Station in Yeovilton in September last year. Footage showed the princess concentrating on the landing strip outside while wearing a headset, and laughing while engaging with members of the crew. She also heard the roar of an F-35B Lightning from RAF Marham as it ‘buzzed’ the control tower.
Armed Forces Day is intended to be an annual celebration of personnel, service families, veterans and cadets in the Armed Forces community. It also marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, which began on Monday, when the public show their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces. Other gestures taken by the royals to mark Armed Forces Day included a new photo of the King being released, while Queen Camilla thanked the military for how they ‘support and strengthen our nation’. The portrait of Charles III was taken by photographer Hugo Burnand in Windsor Castle’s Grand Corridor in November last year and features him wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations.
A video from Camilla was also released by Buckingham Palace thanking veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and their families. In addition, she paid tribute to the military for ‘everything you do to protect this country of ours’. And Camilla described the Armed Forces as a ‘source of inspiration, reassurance and pride’. Her message was filmed in the Clarence House Morning Room and produced by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), of which the she is patron. Camilla herself took on a greater role for Armed Forces Day this year as her husband continues his treatment for cancer following his diagnosis in February.
On Armed Forces Day last year, which was the King’s first as Commander-in-Chief, he wrote a letter paying tribute to the ‘selfless service and sacrifice’ of British troops. Charles was wearing the collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with the Sovereign’s Greater George, as well as the sash of the Royal Victorian Order. He also had the Star of the Order of the Garter and the Star of the Order of the Thistle along with the Order of Merit, the Royal Victorian Chain, the Sovereign’s badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and a Medal Bar. On the table, His Majesty’s Field Marshal cap could be seen along with a pair of white gloves and the Field Marshal baton.
As for Camilla, she was wearing her Royal Lancers brooch – the regiment in which her father Major Bruce Shand served and of which she is Colonel-in-Chief. On the table beside the Queen is a photograph of the King taken in the garden at Clarence House, where he is wearing his Royal Navy uniform as Admiral of the Fleet. A photo of Camilla’s parents Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt could also be seen, taken at St Paul’s Church in London’s Knightsbridge on their wedding day of January 2, 1946.
In her message to the military, the Queen said she was ‘deeply honoured to join you all on Armed Forces Day’. She added: ‘Whether in this country or overseas, we celebrate the service of the men and women in our military and thank you all for everything you do to protect this country of ours. ‘We also remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of stability and peace around the world.’
Camilla then spoke about how she was in Normandy with the King on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. She said: ‘We were reminded of the incredible bravery of the Allied land, sea and air forces whose combined endeavours brought about the liberation of Western Europe and in whose debt we shall forever be. Camilla added
