Salute to our armed forces
THE Prime Minister and the Princess Royal joined a crowd of thousands as Britain celebrated Armed Forces Day. Theresa May accompanied Princess Anne, who saluted military personnel as they marched past in Llandudno, north Wales, yesterday.
Brass bands from all parts of the Forces played as each took it in turns to salute Princess Anne in the military parade along the promenade.
The annual day of celebrating our Armed Forces came just days after British defence giant BAE Systems won a multi-billion pound contract from the Australian government to build nine new warships.
Seeing off competition from Italian and Spanish rivals to win a large slice of the £19.6billion spending programme, has been hailed as a significant victory for British military exports.
The ships will be based on anti-submarine frigates that BAE is building for the Royal Navy, but will be built in Australia by a local workforce from 2020.
Mrs May said the deal was an “enormous boost” for the UK economy and reflected the Government’s strategy to “build on our close relationships with allies like Australia” as the UK prepares to leave the EU.
The large crowds lining the Llandudno seafront threw red, white and blue confetti into the air and joined Mrs May and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson in applauding each military group as they marched past.
After an air display by the Red Arrows, the prime minister went on a walkabout meeting members of the public and military personnel.
One man told her that his brother was in the Army, to which she replied: “He’s doing a fine job for us.”
The Prime Minister also posed for photos with members of the public with some shouting, “Well done Mrs May”.
She then met volunteers who raise money for veterans in Salisbury – which she announced as next year’s host for Armed Forces Day.
Mrs May told them she thought there was “nowhere more suitable” to host the event. A few protesters made their way along the seafront, displaying banners saying “peace and justice” and “don’t fund bombs, fund the NHS.