With just over a week to go until Armed Forces Day, it has been confirmed that the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, will attend the national event in Guildford on Saturday, June 27.

The duke will represent the Queen and the royal family. As part of the event, he will take the salute as a tri-service parade of serving personnel, veterans and cadets march from the bottom of the High Street through the historic heart of Guildford town centre to Stoke Park.

There will be a spectacular parade through Guildford town centre.

The Mayor of Guildford, Nikki Nelson-Smith, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Duke of York to Guildford for the Armed Forces Day national event. We are tremendously proud to be hosting such a magnificent event and hope that people from our local community, across the UK and abroad will join us for the celebrations.”

Armed Forces Day aims to celebrate and express appreciation for the work and the outstanding contribution of the UK’s armed forces, and to give thanks to serving personnel, reservists, cadets and veterans from all three services, and their families.

Following the Armed Forces Day parade through the town at 11.30am, the spectacular free event in Stoke Park features fantastic live action military displays. These include stunning flypasts, breath-taking parachute displays, military bands, motorcycle displays, a gymnastics show and a dramatic battlefield demonstration.

Visitors will be able to see current and vintage military vehicles and aircraft along with displays and demonstrations from the Royal Navy, army and Royal Air Force. There will also be plenty of live music and entertainment to enjoy throughout the day and into the evening. The event finishes at 7.30pm.

The mayor added: “Guildford has strong historic and present day links with the armed forces and so will be seen as a fitting location for these celebrations. We look forward to you joining us to enjoy this special occasion in our lovely town.”

All three armed forces will be involved in the national event in Guildford.

To mark the start of Armed Forces Week, in Guildford on Monday, June 22, the Armed Forces Day flag will take an exhilarating journey by air, water and land across Guildford.

Hawk display Jets.

The Royal Navy, the army and the Royal Air Force will be involved.

Its journey starts at Stoke Park at 10.30am when RAF personnel delivers it in a Chinook helicopter where it will be met by local schoolchildren and cadets.

In order for this to take place safely there will be a short, temporary road closure at Parkway as the Chinook flies over.

Two army Foxhound armoured vehicles and quad bikes will then manoeuvre to the back of the aircraft for the handover of the flag. The army will travel from Stoke Park to Dapdune Wharf and pass the flag to the Royal Navy.

At 11am, Royal Navy personnel will take the flag along the River Wey in rigid inflatable boats to the Town Wharf in the centre of Guildford and hand it to three highly decorated service representatives.

The procession party will move up the High Street to the Guildhall, and the flag will be passed to the Mayor of Guildford. Its journey now complete, the mayor will officially welcome the flag from the balcony and it will be raised to a fanfare by the Royal Marines.

With 60,000 people expected to visit the town on Saturday, June 27, Guildford Borough Council advices that public transport is the best way to travel.

The lead councillor for Armed Forces Day Matt Furniss, said: “Arriving by bus, train or on foot is definitely the best way to get here, particularly as there will be road closures in the town during the day.

“We appreciate not everyone can leave their car at home so we have provided additional out-of-town park and ride sites, free of charge to use, to avoid delay and reduce congestion. We advise anyone driving to please use these temporary car parks.

“With support from Surrey County Council, Surrey Police and partner agencies, we are working to help people plan and make their journeys in the best way possible.”

Guildford and Stoke Park are well served by public transport, with two railway stations within walking distance of the town centre parade route and the Stoke Park show. There is also an extensive bus network with stops across the town.

There will be no parking at or near Stoke Park. Free park and ride sites will be available at Aldershot, Merrist Wood College in Worplesdon and Wisley Airfield.

Access to the sites will be clearly signposted from main roads. The Wisley park and ride site is only accessible from the southbound A3, via Elm Lane direct to the disused airfield. The turning is approximately half a mile from the M25 junction. For more information on these sites visit www.guildfordarmedforcesday.co.uk or call 0330 1230088.

Park and ride bus service will begin at 9am and end at 9.30pm, with buses running every 15 minutes. Buses will drop-off and pick-up next to Stoke Park on Parkway. The last buses back to the car parks will leave Stoke Park at 9pm.

Guildford’s existing park and ride network will operate as usual and will charge as normal except for the Guildford Spectrum park and ride which will be closed on Saturday, June 27.

Buses from existing park and ride sites will not drop off at Stoke Park. The existing park and ride car parks will fill up very quickly and some town centre car parks will be closed.