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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Queen to honour UK Iraq personnel | Queen to honour UK Iraq personnel |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to lead the Royal Family at a service of commemoration honouring military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq. | The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to lead the Royal Family at a service of commemoration honouring military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq. |
| Veterans and relatives of the 179 people killed will take part in the service at St Paul's Cathedral, London. | Veterans and relatives of the 179 people killed will take part in the service at St Paul's Cathedral, London. |
| Tony Blair, prime minister when the conflict began in 2003, is due to join senior defence figures in attendance. | Tony Blair, prime minister when the conflict began in 2003, is due to join senior defence figures in attendance. |
| British combat operations in Iraq officially ended on 30 April with a flag-lowering ceremony in Basra. | British combat operations in Iraq officially ended on 30 April with a flag-lowering ceremony in Basra. |
| About 120,000 members of the UK armed forces and civilians served in Iraq. | About 120,000 members of the UK armed forces and civilians served in Iraq. |
| Other senior royals, including princes Charles and William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal are expected to attend the service, along with the leaders of Britain's main political parties. | Other senior royals, including princes Charles and William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal are expected to attend the service, along with the leaders of Britain's main political parties. |
| UK fatalities in Iraq: In images Emotions as UK honours Iraq force | UK fatalities in Iraq: In images Emotions as UK honours Iraq force |
| A candle will be lit on behalf of those who lost their lives by Tracey Hazel, mother of Cpl Ben Leaning, 24, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, who was killed when his armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in April 2007. | |
| She said she felt "privileged and honoured" to perform the task. | She said she felt "privileged and honoured" to perform the task. |
| "The service is a fantastic idea. It makes me so proud to be British and a lot of other people should be," she added. | "The service is a fantastic idea. It makes me so proud to be British and a lot of other people should be," she added. |
| Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will bless the centrepiece of the "Basra Wall", built by troops in front of the 20th Armoured Brigade's Iraqi HQ to honour fallen comrades. | Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will bless the centrepiece of the "Basra Wall", built by troops in front of the 20th Armoured Brigade's Iraqi HQ to honour fallen comrades. |
| The wall, with its brass plaques and marble centre stone, was the focal point of the memorial service in April to mark the end of the UK operation. | The wall, with its brass plaques and marble centre stone, was the focal point of the memorial service in April to mark the end of the UK operation. |
| It is to be rebuilt at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with the help of a contribution from the Iraqi government. | It is to be rebuilt at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with the help of a contribution from the Iraqi government. |
| Cpl Ben Leaning's mother will light a candle for those killed in Iraq | |
| At St Paul's, prayers will be read by representatives of each of the armed forces. | At St Paul's, prayers will be read by representatives of each of the armed forces. |
| Capt Jon Pentreath, head of the Commando Helicopter Force which supported Royal Marines' amphibious operations over five years, is reading a prayer on behalf of the Royal Navy. | Capt Jon Pentreath, head of the Commando Helicopter Force which supported Royal Marines' amphibious operations over five years, is reading a prayer on behalf of the Royal Navy. |
| He believes the service will give personnel much-needed recognition. | He believes the service will give personnel much-needed recognition. |
| "It's important for the nation to understand what members of the armed forces and their families are going through," he said. | "It's important for the nation to understand what members of the armed forces and their families are going through," he said. |
| Also expected to attend is Sir John Chilcot, who is chairing the inquiry into the conflict. | Also expected to attend is Sir John Chilcot, who is chairing the inquiry into the conflict. |
| He has invited those who served in Iraq to submit evidence to the inquiry, which is also hearing from bereaved families. | He has invited those who served in Iraq to submit evidence to the inquiry, which is also hearing from bereaved families. |