News
Prince William and Prince Harry pay tribute to Britain's Armed Forces at the Sun Military Awards
15th December 2009
Prince William and Prince paid tribute to Britain’s amazing Armed Forces at an awards ceremony in London this evening.
The Princes were attending The Sun Military Awards, also known as the Millies which their father The Prince of Wales helped to found.
At the ceremony, held at the Imperial War Museum, Prince Harry paid tribute to the "immense courage" of a group of bereaved military mothers as he presented the "quite remarkable ladies" with an award for their charity efforts.
The group, known as the Band of Mothers, first met as their sons' bodies were repatriated to RAF Lyneham on 14th July and later set up the charity Afghan Heroes which supports bereaved families and frontline troops.
Prince Harry presented the group with a Special Recognition award at the climax of last night's The Sun Military Awards.
"Your story is truly humbling. To show such immense courage in the face of tragedy is beyond words," he told them.
Deborah Simpson, Jane Whitehouse, Denise Harris, Carol Brackpool and Sharon Backhouse were in London to collect the award. Lucy Aldridge and Jillian Murphy are also on the charity's board.
The 25-year-old Prince served in Afghanistan last year.
Prince Harry, who is currently training to become an Army helicopter pilot, told the mothers: "As far as what you are doing with this courage - sending parcels to every single serviceman and woman in Afghanistan – I can tell you first-hand what a difference it makes.
"It's not just what's inside that counts, it's also the knowledge people are thinking of you back home."
Prince William also spoke at the ceremony at the Imperial War Museum, London, telling servicemen and women: "This country is blessed with its Armed Forces.
"Your unremitting pursuit of excellence, your humanity, your humility, your extraordinary self-discipline, your camaraderie - regardless of background - mark you out as amongst the best in our society."
Prince William, who recently completed his year-long advanced helicopter course and will now train at RAF Valley on Anglesey to become an RAF search and rescue pilot, added: "I count it as a huge privilege and an honour to wear the same uniform as you."
The Prince presented the award for Support to the Armed Forces to representatives from Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire.
The event was packed with celebrities, among them X Factor winner Joe McElderry who sang his debut single The Climb.
He told The Sun he was "lost in admiration for all the award winners".
"To think they are on the frontline doing that day-in day-out is incredible."
Famous faces who presented awards included Bruce Forsyth, Dame Vera Lynn, Fabio Capello and Rio Ferdinand.
Able Seaman Edmond Grandison received his award for Best Reservist a day early after the Formula One fan was surprised by Jenson Button and driven to Clarence House where The Prince of Wales presented him with the trophy.
A Night of Heroes: Military Awards will be shown on ITV1 at 9pm next Monday.