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Windrush arrivals made UK a better place - William Windrush arrivals made UK a better place - William
(about 4 hours later)
Prince William met Alford Dalrymple Gardner, one of the few living passengers to have travelled on the WindrushPrince William met Alford Dalrymple Gardner, one of the few living passengers to have travelled on the Windrush
The Windrush generation have made the UK "a better people today", the Prince of Wales has said on a day of celebrations to mark 75 years since the first crossing from the Caribbean. The Windrush generation have made the UK "a better people today", the Prince of Wales has said on a day of celebrations marking 75 years since the first crossing from the Caribbean.
Prince William said the voyagers and their descendants had helped rebuild the country and added to its culture.Prince William said the voyagers and their descendants had helped rebuild the country and added to its culture.
Among the celebrations, the King was at a Windsor Castle service. A procession will be held later in south London. The King was also at a Windsor Castle service, and a procession was held in south London.
Campaigners welcomed the commemorations but called them "bittersweet".Campaigners welcomed the commemorations but called them "bittersweet".
In 2018, it emerged that many British citizens who arrived as migrants from the Caribbean between the late 1940s and 1970s were facing deportation and detention - despite having the right to live in the UK.
'They didn't expect this'
Almost 500 people stepped off the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June, 1948, the first of thousands encouraged to migrate and help fill labour shortages in the armed forces, industry and NHS.Almost 500 people stepped off the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June, 1948, the first of thousands encouraged to migrate and help fill labour shortages in the armed forces, industry and NHS.
As part of the anniversary, in 2022 the King commissioned 10 portraits of some members of the Windrush generation. They are on public display for the first time at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and later in October at the National Portrait Gallery in London. In 2018, it emerged that many British citizens who arrived as migrants from the Caribbean between the late 1940s and 1970s were facing deportation and detention - despite having the right to live in the UK.
The King attended a special anniversary service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Who are the Windrush generation?
Jermaine Jackman, the former winner of The Voice who was one of the campaigners who called for Windrush 75 to be a "major national moment", sang during the service Windrush 75: 'We have put the Great in Britain'
The King met a familiar face during the service - former broadcaster Baroness Benjamin carried his sceptre at the Coronation in May New 50p coin to mark Windrush anniversary released
Writing in a book accompanying the artworks, the King said: "Though drawn from different parts of the world, they collectively enrich the fabric of our national life and the remarkable tapestry of the Commonwealth." Paying tribute in a video posted on social media, Prince William said: "Today we celebrate the Windrush generation, their descendants and everything they have given to us all."
He said it was "crucially important that we should truly see and hear these pioneers... and those who followed over the decades to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country". The prince said those voyagers had helped to rebuild the country and had added to its culture - "their contributions to Britain cannot be overstated".
Watch the BBC documentary Windrush: Portraits of a Generation He added: "We are a better people today because the children and the grandchildren of those who came in 1948 have stayed and become part of who we are in 2023. And for that we are forever grateful."
Prince William's tribute came after he met Royal Air Force veteran Alford Dalrymple Gardner, who is one of the few living passengers to have travelled on the Windrush.Prince William's tribute came after he met Royal Air Force veteran Alford Dalrymple Gardner, who is one of the few living passengers to have travelled on the Windrush.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jamaican-born Mr Gardner said quite a lot had happened in the past few months: "I've met the King and I've met the Queen, and I've met the Prince of Wales.Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jamaican-born Mr Gardner said quite a lot had happened in the past few months: "I've met the King and I've met the Queen, and I've met the Prince of Wales.
"There's a portrait of me to be hung at Buckingham Palace so in a couple of thousand years when I'm dead and gone, my great great great ones will see my name... nothing can beat that.""There's a portrait of me to be hung at Buckingham Palace so in a couple of thousand years when I'm dead and gone, my great great great ones will see my name... nothing can beat that."
His son Howard Gardner told Today: "They didn't ask for this, they didn't expect it. The people who are dad's age are very humble people... they didn't expect all of this."
The portrait of Alford Gardner was painted by artist Chloe Cox after King Charles commissioned a series of paintings to mark the Windrush crossingThe portrait of Alford Gardner was painted by artist Chloe Cox after King Charles commissioned a series of paintings to mark the Windrush crossing
Paying tribute with a video posted on social media, Prince William said: "Today we celebrate the Windrush generation, their descendants and everything they have given to us all."
William said those voyagers had helped to rebuild the country and had added to its culture - "their contributions to Britain cannot be overstated".
He added: "We are a better people today because the children and the grandchildren of those who came in 1948 have stayed and become part of who we are in 2023. And for that we are forever grateful."
Professor Sir Geoff Palmer is among those to feature in the King's Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation collectionProfessor Sir Geoff Palmer is among those to feature in the King's Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation collection
Guests were invited to view the specially commissioned portraits at Buckingham Palace last weekGuests were invited to view the specially commissioned portraits at Buckingham Palace last week
Other events on Thursday include: The portrait is one of ten paintings of members of the Windrush generation by black artists, commissioned by the King. The artwork is on public display for the first time at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and later in October at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
A series of events including steel bands, dancing and re-enactments at the Port of Tilbury, where the Windrush ship docked 75 years ago Writing in a book accompanying the artworks, the King said: "Though drawn from different parts of the world, they collectively enrich the fabric of our national life and the remarkable tapestry of the Commonwealth."
A procession will take place in Brixton, ending in Windrush Square where there will be performances, poetry and readings He said it was "crucially important that we should truly see and hear these pioneers... and those who followed over the decades to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country".
The Windrush flag will be flown over public buildings including Parliament On Thursday morning, the King was joined by young people and dignitaries at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for a service celebrating the Windrush generation.
Meanwhile, a £1m fundraising effort is currently under way to recover the anchor from the HMT Empire Windrush and put it on public display. The ship sank off the coast of Algeria in 1954. The King met a familiar face during the service - former broadcaster Baroness Benjamin carried his sceptre at the Coronation in May
Wreaths have been laid at the base of the monument commemorating the Windrush generation at London's Waterloo Station Jermaine Jackman, the former winner of The Voice who was one of the campaigners who called for Windrush 75 to be a "major national moment", sang during the service
Throughout the day the Windrush flag was flown at the Houses of Parliament and public buildings across the country, including Bristol and Exeter.
In south London, there was a party atmosphere as people processed in carnival outfits from Herne Hill to Windrush Square, Brixton, where many of the Caribbean community settled.
In Essex, there was dancing as a Thames Clipper boat arrived at the Port of Tilbury with 100 NHS workers and 100 people with Windrush connections. A blue plaque commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first arrivals was also unveiled.
Meanwhile, a £1m fundraising effort is under way to recover the anchor from the HMT Empire Windrush and put it on public display. The ship sank off the coast of Algeria in 1954.
The Windrush flag was flown at Parliament, as well other public buildings across the country
People danced as part of a re-enactment at the Port of Tilbury where HMT Empire Windrush docked
A woman dresses at the Brixton procession in a nod to the fashion of the female Windrush arrivals
In 2018, it came to light that some members of the Windrush generation and their descendants were facing deportation and being denied access to public services because their right to live here had not been properly recorded by the government decades before.In 2018, it came to light that some members of the Windrush generation and their descendants were facing deportation and being denied access to public services because their right to live here had not been properly recorded by the government decades before.
The then home secretary, Amber Rudd, apologised after a scathing report published in 2020 found it had been "foreseeable and avoidable" and that victims were let down by "systemic operational failings". The then-home secretary, Amber Rudd, apologised after a scathing report published in 2020 found it had been "foreseeable and avoidable" and that victims were let down by "systemic operational failings".
As of last month, £75m in compensation had been offered to those impacted, with £62.7m of that paid out, analysis by the PA News agency showed.As of last month, £75m in compensation had been offered to those impacted, with £62.7m of that paid out, analysis by the PA News agency showed.
But the Home Office has continued to face criticism over the handling of compensation applications.But the Home Office has continued to face criticism over the handling of compensation applications.
Amelia Gentleman, a journalist for the Guardian who exposed the scandal, told Radio 4's Today programme: "The anniversary remains soured by the ongoing failings of the Home Office."Amelia Gentleman, a journalist for the Guardian who exposed the scandal, told Radio 4's Today programme: "The anniversary remains soured by the ongoing failings of the Home Office."
What is Windrush and who are the Windrush generation?
'Don't only talk about Windrush on anniversaries'
New 50p coin to mark 75th anniversary released
Windrush compensation scheme 'worse than hell'
She added the 44-page form involved in claiming compensation was too complicated.She added the 44-page form involved in claiming compensation was too complicated.
Watch the BBC documentary Windrush: Portraits of a Generation
Patrick Vernon, convenor of the Windrush 75 network, said the events were a chance to "celebrate the diversity of modern Britain" and to "acknowledge the legacy of those first Windrush pioneers, the challenges they overcame and the contribution they made to Britain".Patrick Vernon, convenor of the Windrush 75 network, said the events were a chance to "celebrate the diversity of modern Britain" and to "acknowledge the legacy of those first Windrush pioneers, the challenges they overcame and the contribution they made to Britain".
But he said it was a "bittersweet moment, tainted by the injustice of the Windrush scandal".But he said it was a "bittersweet moment, tainted by the injustice of the Windrush scandal".
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has resisted calls for the programme to be moved out of Home Office control and the department has insisted it is "absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal".Home Secretary Suella Braverman has resisted calls for the programme to be moved out of Home Office control and the department has insisted it is "absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal".
Meanwhile, the BBC has uncovered evidence that hundreds of long-term sick and mentally ill people were sent back to the Caribbean after arriving in Britain.Meanwhile, the BBC has uncovered evidence that hundreds of long-term sick and mentally ill people were sent back to the Caribbean after arriving in Britain.
Additional reporting by Andre Rhoden-Paul
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Windrush generationWindrush generation
Windrush scandalWindrush scandal
King Charles IIIKing Charles III