Prince Harry set to visit Goodwood for Battle of Britain event

Prince Harry will visit Goodwood next week as part of the Battle of Britain commemorations.
Prince Harry chats to Lord March during his visit to Goodwood in 2014.Picture by Kate ShemiltPrince Harry chats to Lord March during his visit to Goodwood in 2014.Picture by Kate Shemilt
Prince Harry chats to Lord March during his visit to Goodwood in 2014.Picture by Kate Shemilt

The royal will join Second World War veterans and wounded servicemen for a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the battle on September 15.

The event will mark his return to royal duties after a three-month stint in Africa carrying out conservation work.

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It is also the Prince’s 31st birthday – although this won’t be top of Harry’s agenda for the day, which will see him inspecting the planes and meeting the crews flying them.

Prince Harry sees a car which catches his eye, with Lord March at the race track.Picture by Kate Shemilt.Prince Harry sees a car which catches his eye, with Lord March at the race track.Picture by Kate Shemilt.
Prince Harry sees a car which catches his eye, with Lord March at the race track.Picture by Kate Shemilt.

A flypast will bring more Battle of Britain aircraft together in one place than at any time since the Second World War.

Organised by the Boultbee Flight Academy, an estimated 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims from across the UK, USA and Europe will take part in the flypast over the south coast.

Battle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire pilot, Wing Commander Tom Neil, who is now 95, will lead the formation.

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He will be joined by Corporal Alan Robinson and Nathan Forster, the two wounded servicemen backed by the Spitfire Scholarship set up by the Boultbee Flight Academy in partnership with The Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund, which Prince Harry launched at Goodwood last year.

Prince Harry at Goodwood Motor Circuit in 2014.Picture by Kate Shemilt.Prince Harry at Goodwood Motor Circuit in 2014.Picture by Kate Shemilt.
Prince Harry at Goodwood Motor Circuit in 2014.Picture by Kate Shemilt.

The scholarship draws inspiration from the pilot Douglas Bader who flew throughout the Second World War with 20 individual aerial victories despite losing both his legs in 1931.

Nathan was injured in a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment.

RAF engineer Alan had his right leg amputated above the knee after a motorbike accident.

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During the event, Prince Harry will attend a flight briefing before touring the flight line to see the aircraft and meet the owners, operators, pilots and engineers who have made the day possible.

He will then meet Battle of Britain veterans before joining Alan, Nathan and Tom who are flying in the formation.

They will be featured in a two-part documentary on Channel 4.

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