This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33160368
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Waterloo memorial to be unveiled by Prince Charles | Waterloo memorial to be unveiled by Prince Charles |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Prince Charles is to unveil a memorial to the allied British, Dutch, Belgian and German soldiers who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. | Prince Charles is to unveil a memorial to the allied British, Dutch, Belgian and German soldiers who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. |
| Its 200th anniversary is on Thursday and marks the final defeat of the Emperor Napoleon, in a battle that cost some 25,000 lives. | Its 200th anniversary is on Thursday and marks the final defeat of the Emperor Napoleon, in a battle that cost some 25,000 lives. |
| The prince will perform the unveiling ceremony on the Belgian battlefield. | The prince will perform the unveiling ceremony on the Belgian battlefield. |
| More than 5,000 enthusiasts in period uniforms are at the battle site, ahead of a two-day re-enactment this week. | More than 5,000 enthusiasts in period uniforms are at the battle site, ahead of a two-day re-enactment this week. |
| The BBC's Nick Higham says many are camped next to the farm at Hougoumont, a strongpoint in front of the Duke of Wellington's allied army, and scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the day. | The BBC's Nick Higham says many are camped next to the farm at Hougoumont, a strongpoint in front of the Duke of Wellington's allied army, and scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the day. |
| The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, along with Belgium's Princess Astrid, will tour Hougoumont farm, which has recently undergone a £3m project to restore it, following years of neglect. | |
| It will be officially opened on Wednesday. | |
| The new memorial shows two life-size soldiers struggling to close the north gates of the farm, to save it from being overrun by the French. | |
| This defence of the farm was so important that Wellington later said the outcome of Waterloo "turned on the closing of the gates at Hougoumont". | |
| On one of the stone gates are carved words from the Duke's official despatch after the battle: "The army, on any occasion, never conducted itself better." | On one of the stone gates are carved words from the Duke's official despatch after the battle: "The army, on any occasion, never conducted itself better." |
| On Thursday there will be a national service at St Paul's Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary. | |
| The prince and duchess will attend, as will the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Wellington, senior members of the armed forces and descendants of those who fought at Waterloo. |