A ROYAL visitor to Winchester tomorrow will help the city keep a promise made nearly 100 years ago.

The Duke of Gloucester will unveil a memorial honouring the two million US troops who passed through Morn Hill Camp between 1914 and 1919.

The unveiling will form part of Winchester’s annual tri-service ceremony, which aims to raise public awareness of the military.

Celebrations will begin at 11.30am when the Band & Bugles of the Rifles will play a selection of military music at the Buttercross in the High Street. The band will then march down the High Street to join a contingent of service personnel drawn from the navy, the RAF and the army.

At the Great Hall the Armed Forces Flag will be presented to the Duke, who will unveil the memorial shortly afterwards.

County council leader Roy Perry said: “There are 30,000 military personnel based in Hampshire, the largest contingent in the country, and we are immensely proud of our strong connection with the armed forces.

"This year’s ceremony holds special significance as we mark the centenary of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of D-Day.”