Queen Elizabeth Unveils Afghanistan and Iraq Memorial

Queen Elizabeth II has this morning unveiled the national memorial which honours the members of the Armed Forces and British civilians who saw active service during conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq at the Victoria Embankment Gardens.

The memorial was designed by Paul Day with the intention of “commemorating the duty and service of those who put themselves in harm’s way” as Britain was involved in conflicts in the Middle East between 1990 and 2015. 682 British nationals were killed in this time in the region.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen unveiled the memorial after receiving a bouquet of flowers from 2-year-old Alfie Lunn, whose father served in Afghanistan and Iraq, while his mother service in Afghanistan. The youngster did not seem too pleased with his assigned task, wriggling and struggling to escape his mother’s grasp just as he was to hand over the flowers.

The moment a youngster throws a tantrum in front of the Queen and Prince Philip at the unveiling of a new war memorial today. pic.twitter.com/XFh8nb9nRa

— BBC London Newsroom (@BBCLondonNews) March 9, 2017

The Queen and the Duke had earlier attended the Drumhead Service on Horse Guards Parade that was held in conjunction with the memorial unveiling. It was also attended by a large showing of the royal family, highlighting the importance placed on what the memorial represents: the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry (who read from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Members of the royal family are currently attending a reception with veterans, currently serving military personnel and their families at Horse Guards Parade.

Prince Harry speaks at unveiling in London of memorial dedicated to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan wars https://t.co/CkkwiPnDsY pic.twitter.com/L7oFuk7cNI

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 9, 2017

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Memorial, Military, Prince Harry of Wales, The Countess of Wessex, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, Veterans.

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