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Queen hears chimes on D-Day visit | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Queen has met veterans in Portsmouth as part of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. | |
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were also be among the first people to hear the city's chimes ring out again after extensive restoration work. | |
The five bells in the Portsmouth Guildhall clock tower were last rung more than three years ago. | The five bells in the Portsmouth Guildhall clock tower were last rung more than three years ago. |
The royal couple visited the D-Day Museum, which is dedicated to the decisive World War II victory. | |
It comes 65 years after the Normandy invasion in June 1944. | It comes 65 years after the Normandy invasion in June 1944. |
During the visit the royal party toured the museum, which is marking its 25th anniversary. | |
The Queen, wearing a cream coat and hat, viewed the Overlord Embroidery which charts the events of D-Day and features her father King George VI alongside Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Brooke and Generals Montgomery and Eisenhower. | |
She was then met by a crowd of about 2,000 people at Portsmouth's Guildhall Square who cheered despite the rain as she was presented with the keys of the city. | |
As this year is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, it is only fitting that the Queen visits Portsmouth Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson | |
The Guildhall's newly-restored bells, known as the Pompey Chimes, rang out for the first time since 2003 to mark the Queen's arrival. | |
One of the five bells is already named after Queen Victoria with the remaining four set to be named Nelson, Victory, John Pounds and Harry Redknapp. | |
The royal party later attended a reception for the Portsmouth branch of the Normandy Veterans Association and members of the Women's Land Army. | |
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of the council, said: "As this year is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, it is only fitting that the Queen visits Portsmouth. | |
"Over the centuries Portsmouth Harbour has witnessed the preparation and departure of many military and naval expeditions, although none have been on the scale of the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day." | "Over the centuries Portsmouth Harbour has witnessed the preparation and departure of many military and naval expeditions, although none have been on the scale of the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day." |
A reception was also held at Admiralty House in Portsmouth Naval Base for the Queen and Duke to meet military personnel who have recently returned from active duty overseas. | |
Their visit then concluded with lunch as guests of the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Alan Massey. |