Britain’s Duchess Catherine learned about her grandmother’s wartime role yesterday (18.06.14).
The duchess – who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage to Prince William – visited Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, where World War II code breakers worked, and met with her late gran Valerie Glassborow’s friend Lady Marion Body – and discovered the women were among the first to learn the war was over.
Lady Body said: "It was 15 August 1945, I think it was in the afternoon, and we happened to be on that shift. Our superior officer, Commander Williams, came into the room smiling and he said, ‘Well done, girls. A signal has been intercepted from Tokyo to Geneva and it’s the signal that the Japanese are surrendering.
"We just sat there in complete silence…
"It’s something that I could never tell anybody that happened to me, obviously, because we were sworn to secrecy. But it was a great moment to feel you were perhaps among the first people to hear the war was at last over."
Lady Body, 90, admitted Catherine was stunned by the revelation.
She added: "She didn’t know about that and said she’d go and tell her father.
"She wanted to know what she did here. I was able to tell her. Valerie would never have spoken about it – I wouldn’t have done until recently.
"Valerie died a few years ago and it was only fairly recently that people felt able to talk about it."
Catherine said: "What an incredible story that you shared your time here with my grandmother.
"It’s so moving for me, and to be here as well.
"I was aware of it when I was a young girl and I often asked granny about it but she was very quiet and never said anything."
During her visit, Catherine was able to view the interactive exhibitions and demonstrations, as well as meet the team who worked on the £8 million restoration project to create a visitors centre and new exhibitions and interactive displays.
Duchess Catherine learns gran’s history
