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| Stirling leads Armed Forces Day celebrations across UK | Stirling leads Armed Forces Day celebrations across UK |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Armed Forces Day is being marked at celebrations across the UK, led from Stirling. | |
| Hundreds of veterans, serving personnel and cadets joined Princess Anne and the prime minister for a day of military demonstrations and events. | |
| A huge parade of services personnel - young and old - kicked off the proceedings, marching from Stirling Castle to the events grounds nearby. | A huge parade of services personnel - young and old - kicked off the proceedings, marching from Stirling Castle to the events grounds nearby. |
| A Red Arrows display is among a packed timetable of entertainment on show. | A Red Arrows display is among a packed timetable of entertainment on show. |
| Representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force are taking part in the event, the centrepiece of celebrations going on all over the country and at British military outposts abroad. | Representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force are taking part in the event, the centrepiece of celebrations going on all over the country and at British military outposts abroad. |
| The day was also marked at Wimbledon, where services personnel were honoured on Centre Court. | The day was also marked at Wimbledon, where services personnel were honoured on Centre Court. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond were both on hand as the Princess Royal took the salute from a group of veterans leading the 1000-strong parade from Stirling Castle at 11:30. | Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond were both on hand as the Princess Royal took the salute from a group of veterans leading the 1000-strong parade from Stirling Castle at 11:30. |
| They headed through the Old Town and were joined by cadets and serving personnel at the Albert Halls, before making their way to the events ground at the Royal Parklands. | They headed through the Old Town and were joined by cadets and serving personnel at the Albert Halls, before making their way to the events ground at the Royal Parklands. |
| Tanks and military vehicles are on display throughout the day, with demonstrations by Sea King, Apache and Puma helicopters. | Tanks and military vehicles are on display throughout the day, with demonstrations by Sea King, Apache and Puma helicopters. |
| Plane enthusiasts were treated to seeing the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane in flight, along with more modern Typhoon and Tornado jets, and a demonstration by the Red Arrows stunt team is scheduled to close the event. | |
| Other displays included Royal Marines fast-roping from helicopters, pipe bands, a parachute display by the Army's Red Devils, an artillery gun salute and troops staging a ground assault complete with casualty evacuations. | |
| The event came on the same day First Minister Alex Salmond appointed Scotland's first Veterans Commissioner to provide greater support for services personnel. | |
| Meanwhile the Queen attended a service honouring volunteers who served in World War One, 100 years on from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo which led to the outbreak of war. | |
| A message from the Queen to mark the event praised the men and women of the forces as "admirable examples of professionalism and courage". | A message from the Queen to mark the event praised the men and women of the forces as "admirable examples of professionalism and courage". |
| She added: "Then as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas." | She added: "Then as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas." |
| Politicians were united in voicing their support for the armed services, with rivals David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond all present in Stirling. | Politicians were united in voicing their support for the armed services, with rivals David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond all present in Stirling. |
| Mr Cameron said: "My message to our armed services on Armed Forces Day is really a big thank you. | Mr Cameron said: "My message to our armed services on Armed Forces Day is really a big thank you. |
| "You should be proud of what you do, because the whole country is proud of you. Britain's armed forces are brave, are professional and they are a great example to our nation." | "You should be proud of what you do, because the whole country is proud of you. Britain's armed forces are brave, are professional and they are a great example to our nation." |
| In a message on Twitter, Mr Miliband added: "Today we recognise the huge contribution the men and women of our armed forces have made to Britain. Thank you." | In a message on Twitter, Mr Miliband added: "Today we recognise the huge contribution the men and women of our armed forces have made to Britain. Thank you." |
| Mr Salmond said: "Stirling has taken centre stage this weekend with a number of high profile events; from Armed Forces Day to show our respect to serving soldiers, veterans and military families and their selfless service to preserve our democratic freedoms, to Bannockburn Live which celebrates our cultural and ancestral heritage." | Mr Salmond said: "Stirling has taken centre stage this weekend with a number of high profile events; from Armed Forces Day to show our respect to serving soldiers, veterans and military families and their selfless service to preserve our democratic freedoms, to Bannockburn Live which celebrates our cultural and ancestral heritage." |
| Organisers estimate the Armed Forces Day event will earn about £1m for the local economy, while boosting Stirling's reputation as a tourist destination. | Organisers estimate the Armed Forces Day event will earn about £1m for the local economy, while boosting Stirling's reputation as a tourist destination. |
| 'Time to shine' | 'Time to shine' |
| Armed Forces Day is part of Stirling's "Big Weekend", which includes the Bannockburn Live battle re-enactment weekend, the Pipefest pipe band competition, and a night of open-air performances, entertainment and street art at Stirling's Big Night Out. | Armed Forces Day is part of Stirling's "Big Weekend", which includes the Bannockburn Live battle re-enactment weekend, the Pipefest pipe band competition, and a night of open-air performances, entertainment and street art at Stirling's Big Night Out. |
| VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said thousands of people were expected to attend the events. | VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said thousands of people were expected to attend the events. |
| He said: "The teams for Pipefest, Armed Forces Day and Bannockburn Live are working hard to ensure Stirling's Big Weekend is one to remember. | He said: "The teams for Pipefest, Armed Forces Day and Bannockburn Live are working hard to ensure Stirling's Big Weekend is one to remember. |
| "Never before has this stunning city hosted as many tourists from all over the world and it really is Stirling's time to shine, showcasing the attractions, landscapes and history of this amazing area." | "Never before has this stunning city hosted as many tourists from all over the world and it really is Stirling's time to shine, showcasing the attractions, landscapes and history of this amazing area." |