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Waterloo memorial to be unveiled by Prince Charles Waterloo memorial to be unveiled by Prince Charles
(about 5 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 British and allied lives. Events will mark the 200th anniversary of the battle - which cost some 25,000 British and allied lives in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte's French forces.
The prince will perform the unveiling ceremony on the Belgian battlefield. The prince will perform an 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.
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 said many have been camped next to the farm at Hougoumont, which played a crucial role in the victory of the Duke of Wellington's allied army over Napoleon.
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. The farm saw some of the fiercest fighting of the battle.
It will be officially opened on Wednesday. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall - along with Belgium's Princess Astrid - will tour Hougoumont, which has recently undergone a £3m project to restore it following years of neglect.
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. A 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". The defence of the farm was so strategically 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." Cathedral service
On Thursday there will be a national service at St Paul's Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary. The event is just one of a number being staged to mark the bicentenary of Waterloo.
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. The battle was fought after French emperor Napoleon conquered large swathes of Europe, before being defeated by allied forces in 1814.
He was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba, but escaped the following year, and on 18 June 1815 his troops again faced the combined allied forces at Waterloo - about 10 miles from the Belgian capital, Brussels.
On Thursday, there will be a national service at London's St Paul's Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary of the battle.
The prince and duchess will attend, along with the Earl of Wessex, the current Duke of Wellington, senior members of the armed forces and descendants of those who fought at Waterloo.
Waterloo: The day that decided Europe's fateWaterloo: The day that decided Europe's fate
Discover how closely Britain came to defeat at Waterloo with iWonderDiscover how closely Britain came to defeat at Waterloo with iWonder