The Duke of Kent has made a visit to Bletchley Park as he marks thirty years as one of its greatest supporters.
The Duke, 90, visited the museum now attached to the famous code cracking site as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Prince Edward opened the visitor attraction at Bletchley Park back in 1996 and became its royal patron.
Three decades on, he returned to meet some of the veterans of Bletchley Park and share their memories.
Those he spoke to were among the code breakers whose work was credited with changing the course of World War Two.
Their work was top secret. Among those who worked at Bletchley Park was the late Valerie Glassborow whose granddaughter, Kate, is now the Princess of Wales. Kate has visited Bletchley Park twice since marrying Prince William to see more of the work done by her grandmother and others.
The Duke of Kent attended a special event at Bletchley to mark the 30 years since it first started telling its story to visitors. Bletchley Park has now developed a reputation as one of the country’s leading heritage attractions, helping tell the story of this vital part of World War Two.
The Duke, who was four years old when the conflict got under way, also saw how the museum at Bletchley Park is now looking to AI to continue its story.
He toured an exhibition called ‘The Age of AI’ which looks at the connections between the new technology and the groundbreaking work carried out at Bletchley Park.
There was also time for afternoon tea with the veterans.
It was the latest engagement for the Duke who, months after turning 90, continues to carry out public duties for the King. In the past few weeks, he’s carried out several military roles and received the Ambassador from Germany to discuss his work with the Dresden Trust.
And just days before his visit to Bletchley Park, there was another poignant moment for him as he attended a performance by the Bach Choir, given in memory of his late wife. The Duchess of Kent died in September at the age of 92. The King along with the Prince and Princess of Wales joined mourners at her Catholic funeral held at Westminster Cathedral.
The Duke of Kent has carried out a wide range of work supporting veterans of World War Two. He was just four when the conflict began and was six when his father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, was killed in a plane crash while on service.
