Britain's oldest man met the Queen today at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the summer.
Royal Navy veteran Henry Allingham, 111, who saw action at Ypres and the Somme, was joined by ex-Royal Navy stoker Bill Stone, 106, the last known ex-serviceman, living in Britain, to have served in both world wars.
Mr Allingham said he was representing all the servicemen who sacrificed their lives for their country in the war.
He said: "I didn't come here for my life. I came here because of those men who gave their lives.
"I want people to know how much we owe them. They gave everything."
Mr Allingham, who retired to eastbourne in 1961 and who now lives in Ovingdean, near Brighton, said he was delighted to meet the monarch.
He added: "I've met her several times before. It's a great honour. She's a lovely lady."
The veterans were also introduced to Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra in the Garden Entrance of the Palace.
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