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Edinburgh Live
07-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Millions didn't realise Queen Camilla and Princess Kate's 'secret' message on VE Day
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jewellery experts have explained how Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla made secret tributes during the VE day celebrations. `The nation was delighte to see King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and royal youngsters Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte at the glittering event on Bank Holiday monday. However many onlookers would have been totally unaware that Camilla and Kate were paying their own subtle tributes through two items they were wearing. Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales made meaningful sartorial choices, each wearing brooches that paid tribute to their own family histories. Jewellery specialists at UK retailer Steven Stone have closely examined the brooches, uncovering the significance and intricate details behind each Stone commented: 'On VE Day, Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales paid quiet tribute through the language of legacy – Camilla with the 12th Royal Lancers brooch honouring her father's cavalry service, and Kate with the RAF wings evoking the flight path of her grandfather's wartime courage. Camilla's brooch, a striking emblem of the 12th Royal Lancers – her father's regiment since 1937 – is crafted in white gold and set with diamonds. At its centre are the Prince of Wales' feathers over crossed lances, adorned with ruby and diamond pennants. A Queen's crown tops the design, with a yellow gold and blue enamel scroll at the base inscribed 'IX – XII.' I'd estimate its value at around £7,000. Kate's brooch features a yellow-plated 'RAF' monogram within a laurel wreath – symbolising victory and honour – topped by a Queen Elizabeth II Crown. Large feathered wings extend from each side, evoking flight and freedom. I'd estimate its value at around £5,000.' (Image: Getty) Queen Camilla wore the 12th Royal Lancers brooch, a nod to her father's cavalry service: Crafted in white gold and set with diamonds Features the Prince of Wales' feathers over crossed lances with ruby and diamond pennants Topped with a Queen's crown, and a yellow gold and blue enamel scroll inscribed 'IX – XII' Estimated value: £7,000 (Image: UK Press via Getty Images) Princess Kate wore an RAF wings brooch, honouring her grandfather's wartime service in the Royal Air Force: Features a yellow-plated 'RAF' monogram within a laurel wreath, symbolising victory and honour Topped by a Queen Elizabeth II Crown Flanked by large feathered wings, evoking flight and freedom Estimated value: £5,000
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Prince Louis mimics older brother George during VE Day parade
Prince Louis, the seven-year-old son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, playfully teased his older brother Prince George during Monday's VE Day celebrations, capturing the attention of onlookers and social media alike. As the two young princes watched the military procession from the Queen Victoria Memorial in London, Louis appeared to mimic George's mannerisms. Cameras caught the moment Louis, seemingly amused by his brother's actions, copied the way 11-year-old George flicked his hair, then exaggeratedly smoothed down his own. The lighthearted interaction between the two siblings quickly spread across social media, delighting royal watchers. One joked: 'Prince Louis getting ready like he's got a royal Zoom call in 5.' Another wrote: 'That kid is going to be a real source of entertainment… as long as you're not related to him.' Louis's behaviour quickly drew comparisons to his previous high-profile appearances, including his infamous balcony mischief at Trooping the Colour and the Platinum Jubilee, where he was seen covering his ears during the flypast and making faces at the crowd. It came as the royal family – including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, the King and Queen – joined veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Despite the drizzle, the family remained seated among guests at the Queen Victoria Memorial, where William was seen quietly explaining parts of the parade to Louis, who nodded along before returning his attention to George. Louis was also seen trying to lend his father a helping hand as he brushed something off William's jacket while watching the celebrations. The seven-year-old, seated next to his father — who was in his military uniform — cheekily turned to him and began brushing down the shoulder of his jacket. Queen Camilla, also present for the event on Monday, paid tribute to her family's military history. She wore a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, accented by a brooch of the 12th Royal Lancers, her father's regiment. On Monday, the Princess of Wales also wore a brooch fit for the occasion – an RAF wings pin. Kate's grandfather served in the RAF as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
King follows grandfather's example at VE Day parade
King Charles III commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day by wearing his naval uniform without medals, mirroring his grandfather King George VI's attire on the original VE Day in 1945. The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, observed the military parade and flypast in central London. Queen Camilla honored her late father's military service by wearing a brooch of the 12th Royal Lancers, his regiment. The Princess of Wales wore an RAF wings pin, paying tribute to her grandfather's service as a fighter pilot during World War II. The royal family watched the parade from a platform and later appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the flypast. IN FULL VE Day: King follows in grandfather's footsteps by not wearing medals
Powys County Times
05-05-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
King follows in grandfather's footsteps by not wearing medals at VE Day parade
The King followed in his grandfather's footsteps 80 years on as he chose not to adorn his uniform with medals at the VE Day parade. Charles wore the naval No.1 dress uniform to see Monday's military procession and flypast in central London to kick off four days of celebration. He elected not to wear medals, reflecting the same choice made by King George VI when he stepped on to the Buckingham Palace balcony on May 8 1945. The Queen paid tribute to her family's military legacy with a 12th Royal Lancers brooch – her late father's regiment – pinned to her sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat. Her father, Major Bruce Shand, served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his efforts in North Africa, and was later wounded and taken prisoner while fighting in the same region. He died in June 2006 aged 89. On Monday, the Princess of Wales also wore a brooch fit for the occasion – an RAF wings pin. Kate's grandfather served in the RAF as a fighter pilot during the Second World War. The Princess Royal wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps), emulating what the late Queen wore when she was a princess appearing on the Palace balcony on VE Day in 1945. The Prince of Wales was dressed in the RAF No.1 uniform. Members of the royal family watched the parade on Monday from a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial before making their way to Buckingham Palace's balcony to watch the flypast overhead against a soundtrack of cheering crowds.
Telegraph
05-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Queen tells veteran how father survived being shot in face
The Queen has described how her father had a lucky escape after being shot in the face during the Second World War. Her Majesty invited Douglas Cracknell, a 99-year-old war veteran, to Clarence House to hear his stories, telling him that future generations 'wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you'. She spoke of her father, Major Bruce Shand, and his wartime experiences, reading an extract from his diary in which he described the thrill of receiving letters from friends and family back home. Major Shand served with the 12th Royal Lancers during the Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his efforts in North Africa. He was later wounded and taken prisoner that same year while fighting in the same region. He died in June 2006, aged 89, and the Queen told Mr Cracknell that he had a narrow escape at El Alamein in Egypt in 1942. 'My father, who was captured at El Alamein, he was shot at and the bullet went through one side of the face, came out the other,' she said. 'He was so lucky because it didn't hit his teeth or his tongue.' As the Queen welcomed Mr Cracknell to Clarence House, she told him: 'You look very young – you belie your 99 years. 'I'm always fascinated to talk to any of the survivors of the war. Do you go back and think about it?' Mr Cracknell replied: 'I do. We went over to France and went onto Hill 112 [in Normandy], and that was where we lost a lot of men. I lost all my mates. 'I got hit with a machine gun, and I held my Sten gun like that [across his face] as I went down and a bullet hit the Sten gun. My face was just all bits of shrapnel. I always done what my father told me to do – keep your head down.' The Queen smiled and said: 'All I can say is that it must have been very sensible advice, because here you are today to tell the tale.' The pair chuckled as Mr Cracknell admitted that he had woken up in a bath in Bruges two days after VE Day in 1945 with no memory of the celebrations. 'They read it out that the war was over, and it was chaos,' he recalled. 'They were flocking around you, and I woke up two days later in the bar. Two days of my life I lost.' The Queen told him: 'Well, they were probably lost for a very good reason. At least you were celebrating.' 'Linchpins of our existence' Last week, The Queen sat down with veteran Douglas Cracknell at Clarence House ahead of #VEDay80 commemorations. Douglas was awarded the Legion d'Honneur for his service during the Second World War, when he served as a rifleman in the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 5, 2025 Mr Cracknell was part of the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a rifleman and landed in Arromanches, Normandy, on June 22 1944. He was wounded twice, first in the Netherlands when a bullet hit the weapon he was operating and wounded his face, and again in Hamburg when a shell blast caused shrapnel wounds and a temporary loss of hearing. He had previously described feeling 'scared stiff' to be fighting in France, saying: 'To think that we were in a foreign country and didn't know where we were and you didn't know who your enemy was,' he said. The Queen described how her father had written a diary during the war, reading out an extract about how letters were 'the linchpins of our existence', their regular arrival always causing excitement. Describing the thrill he felt when he was told he had a dozen letters waiting for him at the camp, Major Shand wrote: 'To later generations its hard to understand the emphasis, particularly in wartime, that was put on the amenity of correspondence, not to mention the art of precis writing imposed by the limits of letter cards and the sheets of prescribed lengths. 'People in England were incredibly considerate and consistent about all this and I remain eternally grateful to my many correspondents, family and otherwise, and especially to Ursula Wyndham, whose letters I wish I could have preserved, as they were models of wit, interest and style.' Mr Cracknell agreed that soldiers had 'really looked forward' to the letters and admitted that, like Major Shand, he had rarely spoken about the war after returning home. 'I think really, it should be talked about,' he said. 'Let the younger ones know what we went through.' The Queen told him: 'We need it for future generations. I think that's so important, very important. Because they wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for all of you. So thank you.' Last year, the Queen was named Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers and has paid tribute to her late father's service.
