Ernie meets the Queen

A LANCING man met the Queen when he represented the Royal Navy at a concert in London to commemorate the end of World War Two.

Ernie Knibbs, 80, of Upper Boundstone Lane, was one of three veterans who represented the three armed forces at the concert organised by the Royal British Legion in Central Hall, Westminster, last Monday.

The Royal Marine was on the first flotilla to land on Sword Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and was also filmed last month for a television advert by the Royal British Legion to commemorate VE Day. The Duke of Edinburgh and Prime Minister Tony Blair were also at the concert.

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Mr Knibbs told the Herald: "The Queen was so pleasant. She was quite softly spoken, but very nicely dressed.

"The Duke of Edinburgh followed her and he said to me 'Royal Marines!'. He seemed to be pleased to see me.

"He asked what I had done in the Pacific and I told him I had been in the south-west Pacific."

Mr Knibbs went up to the concert with his daughter, Linda, and added they had both enjoyed the experience.

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Mr Knibbs also went to the Royal British Legion VE Day celebration in Trafalgar Square last month.

"We had a police escort in London," he said. "I had Michael Howard in the seat right in front of me and Ken Livingstone right next to me. It was thoroughly enjoyable, too."

Mr Knibbs was the sternsheets man on landing craft assault (LCA) 966, which ferried troops from the SS Empire Cutlass onto the beaches for D-Day.