Prince Charles had tea with the Battle of Britain survivors yesterday (06.09.16).
The Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, entertained four of the remaining 14 veterans, plus widows and other members of The Battle of Britain Fighter Association at Clarence House, and admitted he "can’t bear" to see their numbers dwindling.
He said: "What I can’t bear is The Few keep getting fewer and fewer."
The Battle of Britain took place during World War II from July to October 1940 when the Royal Air Force defended the UK against the German Air Force.
Survivors of the conflict are known as The Few, and all 14 are aged between 94 and 100.
It comes after then-Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill famously said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
Charles and Camilla heard stories from the survivors, including former squadron leader Geoffrey Wellum, 95, who spoke about the day he "should have died" and asked for people to remember those who sadly passed away.
He explained: "It’s not about medals or about the ‘thank yous’ we get, it’s about remembering everybody who fought, not just the survivors. That’s all we ask."
More than 23,000 civilians were killed in the conflict and almost half of the 3,000 airmen lost their lives.
Charles, 67, has been patron of The Battle of Britain Fighter Association since 2003.
Prince Charles entertains Battle of Britain survivors
