Nottingham hosts fifth annual Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day was celebrated across the UK on Saturday, recognising the contribution made by our Service personnel past and present.
![Spectators enjoying the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Steve Buckley, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/13129/s300_SB_AFD_079g.jpg)
Spectators enjoying Armed Forces Day in Nottingham
As host of this year’s national event, the city of Nottingham pulled out all the stops to ensure Saturday 29 June was a day to remember.
The fifth Armed Forces Day national event began with local reserve unit 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery firing a volley of gun blasts in a ‘feu du joie’ – ‘fire of joy’ – from Nottingham Castle.
A spectacular tri-Service parade then stepped off and made its way from the Castle to the Old Market Square for a drumhead service attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Members of 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery firing their guns at Nottingham Castle [Picture: Corporal Andy Reddy, Crown copyright]
The Red Arrows, performing in their 49th display season, flew over Nottingham as the Armed Forces Day parade marched through the city centre.
As the drumhead service concluded, current and historic aircraft from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force filled the skies, including the RAF’s latest multi-role fast jet, the Typhoon.
Festivities then continued with a programme of exciting entertainment at Victoria Embankment, including a dynamic display by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on the River Trent, and members of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team mounting the colourful aerial display for which they are famous.
To close festivities, on a special visit to Nottingham, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery performed their celebrated Musical Ride with their troopers, horses and First World War guns.
The excitement wasn’t just confined to Nottingham, with hundreds of events taking place from the Orkney Islands in Scotland to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery parade through Nottingham on Armed Forces Day [Picture: Crown copyright]
The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth at the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Corporal Andy Reddy, Crown copyright]
Soldiers from 64 Works Group Royal Engineers parade through Nottingham on Armed Forces Day [Picture: Corporal Andy Reddy, Crown copyright]
The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team taking part in the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Dan Rosenbaum, Crown copyright]
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester at the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Steve Buckley, Crown copyright]
Armed Forces personnel parading through the crowded streets of Nottingham [Picture: Corporal Andy Reddy, Crown copyright]
Veterans on parade at the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Steve Buckley, Crown copyright]
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester takes the salute in the Old Market Square, Nottingham [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Steve Buckley, Crown copyright]
Troops on parade at the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno RLC, Crown copyright]
The Red Arrows fly over Nottingham [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno RLC, Crown copyright]
Last updated 1 July 2013 + show all updates
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Story updated to include pictures from the day
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First published.