Her Majesty The Queen to attend Festival of Remembrance

Her Majesty The Queen to attend Festival of Remembrance

 

[caption id="attachment_9802" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The Field of Remembrance pays tribute to servicemen and women who died in conflict (BBC))[/caption]

 

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh are due to attend the Festival of Remembrance later, as part of a three-day commemoration of Britain's war dead.

 

The event at the Royal Albert Hall honours those who fought and died in conflicts past and present.

 

This year's festival also marks the 70th anniversaries of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Dambuster raids.

 

On Sunday there will be Remembrance services and on Monday a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day.

 

A television audience of 5.2m is expected to watch the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, which will feature performances by singer James Blunt, Katie Melua, the tenor Alfie Boe and new group, the Poppy Girls.

 

As well as Her Majesty The Queen and Their Royal Highness Prince Philip, other members of the Royal Family are expected to attend, including Their Royal Highness The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

 

'Moving and engaging'

 

Tributes from performers will be interspersed with real-life stories from some of the former and serving forces personnel the Royal British Legion helps every year.

 

The Poppy Girls, an all-girl group picked from a search for talent among forces families, will be performing their new single The Call (No Need To Say Goodbye) which is raising money for the Poppy Appeal.

 

The Royal British Legion's director general, Chris Simpkins, said: "The festival will provide a moving and engaging show here in London and for viewers across the country, but more importantly it helps us to reach out to wider audiences and offer the public an opportunity to pay their respects, and remember those who, in past and present conflicts, have made sacrifices in the course of duty."

 

Before the festival, there will be a short ceremony where the former South Steps at the Royal Albert Hall will be renamed Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps.

 

The Cenotaph in central London will be the focus of the national service of Remembrance on Sunday, while a two-minute silence will be held at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War One.

 

Ahead of this weekend's events Their Royal Highness Prince Henry and Their Royal Highness Prince Philip visited the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey to pay their respects and observe a two-minute silence.

 

On Saturday morning, Commando 999 raised money for the "Royal Marines Family" by attempting to break the world speed march record.

 

They tried to carry kit and weapons weighing over 40lbs (18kg) 26.2 miles (42km) through central London in under four hours 19 minutes to commemorate the Royal Marines' 350th birthday.

 

The Royal Marines were quicker than previous attempts but did not beat the record as one man had to pull out half a mile before the end.

 

They completed the race around London in four hours, 17 minutes and 21 seconds.

 

They raised more than £20,000 to help Royal Marines who have been affected mentally and physically by war.

 

It was to be followed by a group of 50 veterans and serving marines speed marching a half-marathon, before a wreath is laid at the Royal Marines' memorial.

 

(BBC, 9 Saturday November 2013 The Roman)