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Prince William and Prince Harry attend City Salute

6th May 2008

Prince William and Prince Harry have paid tribute to the British Armed Forces with a major open air event outside St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Princes are Royal Patrons of City Salute, a tribute from the financial district of London (the City of London) which aims to raise funds for Help the Heroes and SSAFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association). 

The money raised by the Appeal will be used to help fund projects at Headley Court, the tri-service defence medical rehabilitation centre in Epsom, Surrey .

Prince William and Prince Harry, who are both Lieutenants in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) visited the centre on 21st April 2008.  Click here to read the story.

The event, attended by hundreds of members of the public, was set against the magnificent backdrop of Sir Christopher Wren’s great baroque cathedral and began with the roar of three Eurofighter Typhoon jets flying over head through the warm summer air.

Hosted by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the event involved both traditional and contemporary elements with a parade involving armoured vehicles and ceremonial troops, a sound and light show and an RAF flypast passing over the financial heart of London.

Jeremy Clarkson told the crowds who lined the streets around the famous cathedral: "This is the event that celebrates the work of armed forces and more importantly thanks them for doing it."

Royal Marine Mark Ormond, 24, who lost both legs and his right arm after stepping on a Taliban landmine in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, was featured in a short film shown to the audience on giant screens.

He was part of a reception that met Prince William and Prince Harry before the event began.

The 24-year-old, who is receiving rehabilitation treatment at Headley Court, said: "It means a great deal to be here, it's an honour. It's a bit overwhelming, you don't realise until events like this how much support there is for civilians.

"I joined the Marines in 2001 and until I got injured I didn't realise how much support there was."

In the event programme Prince William and Prince Harry paid tribute to the men and women who serve our country:  "City Salute is a chance for us all to follow the City’s lead in saying thank you to the Armed Forces, and join in saluting the remarkable qualities of our servicemen and women and their families. It’s a chance, too, for us to demonstrate our support for them by helping with the care for those who have suffered grievously in the service of their country.

"We are both currently enjoying the privilege of seeing at first-hand the simply remarkable job which the men and women of our Armed Forces do. Their professionalism is coupled with quite extraordinary personal qualities of courage, resilience, modesty, and humour – qualities which they display in good times and in bad, and which are humbling and inspiring beyond measure.

"Our servicemen and women need to know that we as a people can display those same qualities – that we will support them in good times and in bad; and they need to know just how grateful we are for the job which they do on our behalf so uncomplainingly and so well.

"Their families, too, deserve our support and our gratitude. In what are for most of us years of peace and plenty they suffer agonies of separation and apprehension, and give love and crucial support when needed. We salute them as well, and thank them."

Guy Monson, chief executive of Sarasin and Partners and Chairman of the City Salute appeal committee, said it was a way for Britain's financial centre to show its gratitude to service personnel.

To find out more go to www.citysalute.com