The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales at the controls of a 2nd World War Anti-Aircraft Gun

On 4 July 2005, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Defence John Reid, opened the Living Museum, launching a week of nationwide commemorative events to mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

His Royal Highness, with the Duchess of Cornwall and Mr Reid toured a number of wartime exhibitions, displays and re-enactments including Jungle Jitters Far East Encampment, a Battle of Britain Spitfire Scramble, a Home Front House Recreation and the Land Army's Soil Cinderellas 'Digging for Victory'.

The Second World War will shortly fade from living memory.  Central to this year's commemorations is the idea of handing on the baton of remembrance to younger generations.  Educations and understanding are fundamental to the concept of the living Museum.

The re-enactments and hands-on displays will enable young people to empathise with their grandparents' and great-grandparents' experiences and evoke memories for the wartime generation.  Mr Reid said:

"This years commemorative events will enable us to demonstrate to those who lived through the war, at home and abroad, that the sacrifices their generation made and the hardships they endured are still acknowledged, valued and appreciated.

"I hope that this year's events will encourage people to discuss their own experience and pass on their own family's war story to future generations giving them the opportunity to keep these memories alive."

Entrance to the Living Museum is free.  Opening hours are:

Monday 4th July 14.00-20.00
Tuesday 5th - Friday 8th  12.00 - 20.00
Saturday 9th  11.00 - 20.00
Monday to Saturday last entrance  19.00
Sunday 10th  09.00 - 14.00

To find out more about the exciting programme of events planned for the week please visit the official website.

The Prince and Duchess officially open the Living Museum	The Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace	The Secretary of State meets a veteran of the Durham Light Infantry	The Prince meets veterans of the Glider Pilot Regiment at the Living Museum. In 1940, Winston Churchill ordered the Chiefs of Staff to recommend how best to form a new combat arm which was to be delivered to the battlefield by air. The result of this initiative was the formation in 1942 of the parachute battalions and the Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR), whose soldiers wore the distinctive maroon beret and capbadge of the Army Air Corps. The GPR was created to fly troops and heavy equipment in large towed gliders into areas behind the enemy’s front line.
The Secretary of State for Defence meets the Prince of Wales	The Jungle Jitters display focuses on the war in Burma during 1944-45	The Prince and Duchess try out the NAAFI Tea	The Prince meets veterans Hav Mangal Singh, ex-Signal Corps and Mr Gulzara Singh Bir

Related articles:

•  Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two

Related links:

• WW2 60th Anniversary Commemorations
• Veterans Agency
• Veterans Agency - Calendar of Events
• Imperial War Museum
• Their past-your future
• The Royal British Legion
• WW2 Peoples War
• Big Lottery Fund