<![CDATA[The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, The
Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, will attended the
Service of Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at
Bayeux and meet veterans of the Second World War.
Bayeux Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second
World War in France and includes the burials brought in from the
surrounding districts and hospitals. The Cemetery contains 4,144
Commonwealth graves of which 338 are unidentified and 504 are from
other Nationalities (mainly German). The Bayeux Memorial stands
opposite the cemetery and bears the names of more than 1,800
Commonwealth soldiers who died during the Normandy landing and
advance to the Seine and have no known grave.
Her Majesty The Queen meeting D-Day veterans at the Royal
British Legion service of remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral pic.twitter.com/fgbtBzlJXw
— Birmingham Updates (@BhamUpdates) June 6, 2014
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An Anglo-French tri-service Guard of Honour, present at the
entrance to the cemetery, gave the Royal Salute as The Prince of
Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrived.
The Prime Minister of France; the National President of the Royal
British Legion, Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson; the National
President of the Normandy Veterans, Brigadier David Baines and the
Vice President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Air Chief
Marshal Sir Joe French met and greeted the Royal couple.
The group waited for the arrival of Her Majesty and The Duke of
Edinburgh. Upon their arrival, the Royal party proceeded along the
central avenue. During their walk, a memorial flight, including a
Lancaster Bomber and two Spitfires, flew overhead.
Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles and Camilla watch
the memorial flight pass overhead. pic.twitter.com/TjXVvLAGHh
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) June 6, 2014
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During the service, Her Majesty laid a wreath. The Prince of Wales
and Prime Minister Valls laid wreaths at the same time, on each
side of the Memorial Cross, to symbolise the strength of the
bilateral relationship. The British Prime Minister, the Prime
Minister of Australia, New Zealand’s Governor General and then the
Presidents of the veterans associations also placed wreaths at the
memorial
After the wreath-laying ceremony, prayers and a hymn followed with
The Prince of Wales reading the lesson (Romans, 8:31-39).
Her Majesty, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and The Duchess
of Cornwall, met staff from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
and groups of veterans after the service. The British Prime
Minister, the Australian Prime Minister, New Zealand’s Governor
General and the French Prime Minister then presented veterans from
their nations.
The Queen and Prince Philip said their goodbyes and departed. They
will attend a lunch for Heads of State and Government given by the
President of the French Republic at the Château de Bénouville. The
Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall remained at the
cemetery, to meet with Commonwealth War Graves staff and Normandy
campaign veterans.
Featured photo credit: Mikepaws via photopin
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