Last night was The Military Awards (the ‘Millies’) hosted by The Sun newspaper at the Imperial War Museum in London. A host of celebrities and dignitaries including the male members of the Beckham family and SamCam, turned out to the event but it was the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton who captured the attention of photographers.
Wearing a beautiful (and very Christmassy!) black strapless velvet maxi dress with fringed neckline designed by Alexander McQueen paired with a diamond and ruby necklace which was gifted to her as a wedding present, the Duchess mixed with serving soldiers and their families, presenting an award to Sgt Ryan McCready.
The awards ceremony honours the achievements of the Armed Forces and those who support them in their operations and was created by Prince Charles in 2008.
The Duchess, Prince William and Prince Harry all attended as representation of the Royal Family. Prince Harry, a serving Officer himself, paid tribute to the Armed Forces in a moving speech,
“It’s often said of our armed forces that they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Well, I don’t entirely buy that. Ordinary people don’t run out under withering enemy rocket and heavy machine-gun fire to rescue a wounded comrade. Ordinary people — a private soldier in this case — aren’t described by their platoon as “the rock” who held them together. Ordinary people don’t brave monsoon conditions dangling on a winch line to rescue 13 people, each in turn…No. You, the Millies nominees and winners, may feel ordinary — most extraordinary people I’ve met do. But you’re not. Even if you were once, you aren’t now.”
Read the full speech here
