Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is to attend the National Veterans Day celebrations at Blackpool on 27 June.

Blackpool has a full programme of activities spanning nine days from Saturday 21 June to Sunday 29 June to appeal to veterans of all ages, their families, friends and the wider public. Events on Veterans Day include military demonstrations, concerts, a night-time parachute drop onto Blackpool beach and the Veterans Challenge which involves ex-Service personnel completing tasks such as abseiling down Blackpool Tower and diving into a shark tank to collect their HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges.

The Duchess – who is Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy, and Lady Sponsor of the Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute – will meet veterans from all over the country, present HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges and attend the National Veterans Day Service at Blackpool Cenotaph. Veterans Minister Derek Twigg and Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt have also confirmed their attendance at the event.

Mr Twigg said:

It is fantastic news that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will be in Blackpool for Veterans Day. Blackpool has a fantastic programme of events over nine days to lead the national celebrations for Veterans Day. Hundreds of events will be taking place all over the country, so I hope everyone gets involved to show their appreciation for our veterans.

General Sir Richard Dannatt said:

I am delighted to be visiting Blackpool for the National Veterans Day celebrations. We must cherish our veterans who have given so much in service, but then continue to give by using their skills to great effect in their community. I encourage all veterans to turn out at their local Veterans Day event and wear their Veterans Badges with pride.