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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall celebrate Armed Forces Day in Edinburgh
25th June 2011
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joined the nation in celebrating the third annual UK Armed Forces Day.
All over Britain celebrations were held in honour of the nation's servicemen and women, as people showed their support and gratitude for the forces.
It is believed that around 100,000 descended upon Edinburgh, which was this year's official host city, to enjoy a packed schedule of activities.
Events got under way as 90 motorcyclists, from the Royal British Legion Scotland Riders Branch, drove down the Royal Mile to celebrate the Legion's 90th anniversary.
A moment of silence was held at the Falklands Memorial Garden in Princes Street Gardens, as members of the South Atlantic Medal Association laid a wreath, followed by a reading of the Falklands Prayer.
The highlight of the day came as more than 2000 military personnel made their way down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle's Esplanade to Holyrood Park.
Outside the Scottish Parliament building The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, who are known as The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when they are in Scotland, stood to watch the parade.
They were joined by Prime Minister David Cameron, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore and Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox.
The Prince stood on a podium and saluted every member of the Armed Forces to pass him. Around 500 servicemen and women marched first, followed by 2,000 veterans and cadets.
The Duchess wore a cream jacket by Anna Valentine and a black and cream hat by Philip Treacy.
She also wore a 9th/12th Lancers brooch, which had three feathers with a crown above and a flag on either side. Her father Major Bruce Shand served in the regiment.
The Prince wore the uniform of the number one dress of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Prince is Colonel-in-Chief, Colonel or Royal Colonel of 18 regiments in the UK and the Commonwealth.
Afterwards Their Royal Highnesses made their way to a ceremony of thanks, the Drumhead Service, where they sang hymns, said prayers and stood for the national anthem.
The royal couple then went on to present a selection of veterans from across the Armed Forces with the HM Armed Forces Veterans' Badge, before meeting members of the public.
The Duchess was handed a bouquet of flowers from 11-year-old Katie Tait, a pupil at Colinton primary school in Edinburgh.
Bob Kennedy, a veteran of the Royal Marines, spoke to The Prince and The Duchess, and said the whole day had been "tremendous".
Mr Kennedy, who is originally from Glasgow but has lived in Ontario, Canada, since he left the Marines in 1947, said he had sent The Prince a photograph of the Queen Mother for his 60th birthday.
He said: "I had a beautiful picture of the Queen Mother taken in Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, which I had held on to for many years.
"I decided to send it to The Prince on his birthday and he wrote back from Clarence House saying thank you.
"Today I reminded him that it was me and he told me it had been a lovely gesture.
"It's been an honour to meet them both."
The Duke and Duchess also visited the Veterans' Village in the park, which was lined with stands representing different charities including Erskine, Poppy Scotland and the South Atlantic Medal Association (Sama), an organisation set up to help those who served during the Falklands War.