Jun 25, 2009, 11:07 GMT
No senior members of Britain's royal family will be attending an official event to mark the first Armed Forces Day.
Soldiers and their families have expressed their disappointment that only the Duke of Gloucester, who is 19th in line to the throne, and his wife will be at Kent's Historic Dockyard on Saturday (27.06.09).
A senior Army officer said: "There is a feeling that perhaps they could have done a bit better. It is not that the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are in any way unwelcome, but if you are going to have an Armed Forces Day, then really it should be done properly."
Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Armed Forces, will be at an event with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh but neither her husband Prince Philip, sons Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward, daughter Princess Anne or grandsons Princes William and Harry will be present at the service.
Phil Cooper - father of Jamie Cooper, Britain's youngest soldier to be wounded in Iraq - blasted their refusal to attend the commemoration, claiming it showed a "lack of respect".
He told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "When you sign up, you take an oath to serve the queen and country, laying down your life for the monarchy if necessary. Surely it is not too much to ask for a senior royal to be bothered to turn up and take the salute."
Defence Minister Kevan Jones and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, as well as Prime Minister Gordon Brown are expected to be at the event.
Buckingham Palace said the Gloucesters are being sent due to their strong military links.
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