Πρώτη επίσημη εμφάνιση του Κάμερον μετά το Brexit παρουσία του Ολάντ και μελών της βασιλικής οικογένειας

Στην τιμητική εκδήλωση για τα 100 χρόνια από τη Μάχη του Σομμ, την πιο φονική μάχη στη σύγχρονη στρατιωτική Ιστορία της Βρετανίας, παρέστη η βασιλική οικογένεια της Βρετανίας – πλην της Βασίλισσας Ελισάβετ – καθώς και ο Πρωθυπουργός της Βρετανίας Ντέιβιντ Κάμερον, ο Πρωθυπουργός της Σκωτίας Νίκολα Στέρτζον και ο Πρόεδρος της Γαλλίας Φρανσουά Ολάντ.

Σημειώνεται ότι είναι η πρώτη δημόσια εμφάνιση σε σημαντική περίσταση του Βρετανού Πρωθυπουργού μετά το Brexit και μάλιστα παρουσία του Γάλλου Προέδρου ο οποίος έχει εκφραστεί κατ’ επανάληψη υπέρ της άμεσης αποχώρησης των Βρετανών από την Ε.Ε.

Η εμφατική παρουσία της βασιλικής οικογένειας της Βρετανίας (παρέστησαν ο Κάρολος με την Καμίλα, ο Πρίγκιπας Γουίλιαμ με την Κέιτ και ο Πρίγκιπας Χάρι) από την άλλη ήταν για να τιμήσουν την επέτειο της μάχης αυτής του Α’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου που πραγματοποιήθηκε στη γαλλική πόλη, στην οποία, ήδη από την πρώτη μέρα,  την 1η Ιουλίου 1916, έχασαν τη ζωή τους 120.00 στρατιώτες, με τις απώλειες για τους Βρετανούς να υπολογίζονται ακόμη και σε 70.000.

Οι τελετές άρχισαν στις 07:28 (τοπική ώρα, 08:28 ώρα Ελλάδας) στο Οβιγέ-λα-Μπουασέλ (βόρεια Γαλλία), ακριβώς τη στιγμή που πριν από 100 χρόνια οι στρατοί της Βρετανίας και της Γαλλίας πυροδότησαν τριάντα τόνους εκρηκτικών για να δυναμιτίσουν τις γερμανικές άμυνες.

Την ίδια στιγμή, σιγή δύο λεπτών τηρήθηκε στο Λονδίνο, όπου η βασίλισσα συμμετείχε τη νύκτα σε αγρυπνία στο αββαείο του Ουεστμίνστερ. Σφυρίχτρες ήχησαν επίσης κοντά στο κοινοβούλιο για να σηματοδοτήσουν την έναρξη της επίθεσης.

Περισσότεροι από 10.οοο άνθρωποι συγκεντρώθηκαν για να αποτίσουν φόρο τιμής.

Η Daily Mail δημοσίευσε πολλά χαρακτηριστικά στιγμιότυπα από την τελετή:

Senior members of the Royal Family stood side-by-side with politicians as more than 10,000 people gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. As part of the service, schoolchildren laid wreaths at the graves of soldiers killed during the battle. The 600 UK, Irish and French schoolchildren involved in the service are taking part in an educational programme organised by the British Council

Kate arrives for the service of remembrance, which was attended by senior members of the Royal Family including Princes William and Harry

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, David Cameron and Francois Hollande stand side-by-side with other dignitaries as they pay tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago. The event at the Thiepval Memorial, which looks over the battlefields, is one of a number of commemorations being held to mark the centenary

Harry, Kate and William lower their heads as they pay their respects

Kate looked emotional at the service of remembrance

The Prime Minister laid a wreath of poppies at the war memorial alongside Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Both men wore the poppy and cornflower brooch. Delivering a message of unity, Mr Cameron said: 'Today is a chance to reflect on the sacrifice not just of the thousands of British and Commonwealth troops who gave their lives, but of the men on all sides who did not return home'

A soldier stands guard by the Croix du Sacrifice, or Cross of the Sacrifice, as guns are fired at the Thiepval cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves cemetery has an equal number of British and French casualties, with 90 per cent of them killed during the Battle of the Somme

Prince Harry appeared to be overcome with emotion as he sat through the centenary service for the Battle of the Somme this afternoon. Harry was a former officer in the British Army and has also celebrated his close links with the military community

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) looked to be fighting back tears as she listened to this afternoon's commemorative service. The 34-year-old, who was at the event with several members of the royal family, later described the event as 'moving' 

The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery pass the group of dignitaries, including Prince William, Charles, Harry, Kate Middleton and David Cameron (pictured cente) as the service of remembrance gets underway. The procession was watched by more than 10,000 guests

Prince Charles led senior members of the Royal Family in laying a wreath at the memorial, which towers over the battlefields of France. He will later join the Duchess of Cornwall in attending other ceremonies for Northern Irish and Canadian victims of the battle

Members of the Irish Guards were among a number of regiments represented at the First World War memorial. By the end of the six-month Battle of the Somme, which took place from July-November 1916, some 1.3million soldiers on both sides were either dead or injured

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent time speaking to some of the schoolchildren who laid wreaths at the graves of the fallen soldiers. French pupils left flowers at the graves of fallen English soldiers, while English children returned the act of respect for the French

Captured in a stunning aerial image, this photograph shows some of the 600 British, Irish and French schoolchildren who took part in the service as part of an Anglo-French exchange programme organised by the British Council. There 600 graves in the cemetery 

The Prime Minister looked pensive as he prepared to lay a wreath during the ceremony. Mr Cameron also gave a reading in which he spoke of the 'sacrifice' made by the thousands of men who lost their lives during the bloodiest day in British history 

Some 600 schoolchildren from France, Ireland and Britain took part in the service, each one laying flowers at the grave of a Anglo-French cemetery as the final act of remembrance today

From left to right, Francoise Hollande, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prime Minister attend the service today. Writing in the programme, Prince Charles wrote: 'It is truly terrifying to imagine the destruction wrought across this landscape 100 years ago today'

While Camilla was careful to keep herself dry with an umbrella, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Kate and William all appeared happy to walk in the light drizzle that fell across the field. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will later pay tribute to fallen Canadian and Irish troops 

French president Francois Hollande stands guard in front of soldiers as he attends the memorial service with British dignitaries. Commenting on the British referendum vote, Hollande told reporters the UK will 'remain an ally and a partner of France'