Prince William and Prime Minister to attend Manchester Arena remembrance service
The Duke of Cambridge and the Prime Minister will join families of the victims of the Manchester Arena atrocity one year on at a remembrance service in the city.
They will attend the ceremony at Manchester Cathedral along with some of the hundreds injured in the May 22 terror attack, first responders to the scene, civic leaders and other national figures.
The invitation-only service, held between 2pm and 3pm, will incorporate a national silence at 2.30pm, which will also be marked at UK government buildings.
At 10.31pm tomorrow night, precisely a year on from the arena attack, bells will ring from churches and civic buildings in the city centre, marking the tragic loss and those affected as well as the resilience our city has shown to the world in the last 12 months. #mcrtogetherpic.twitter.com/mSCdHj7HBq
-- Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 21, 2018
Members of the public will be able to watch proceedings on a big screen in nearby Cathedral Gardens, while the service will also be screened at York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.
Prince William will privately meet some of the bereaved families following the multi-faith service.
Writing in the Manchester Evening News, Theresa May said: "The targeting of the young and innocent as they enjoyed a carefree night out in the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017 was an act of sickening cowardice.
thinking of you all today and every day ? I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day
-- Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 22, 2018
"It was designed to strike at the heart of our values and our way of life in one of our most vibrant cities, with the aim of breaking our resolve and dividing us. It failed.
"For such appalling acts of wickedness will do nothing but strengthen our resolve to defeat such twisted ideologies and beliefs.
"The resilience and determination shown by this city in the 12 months since is testament to that."
Later on Tuesday, more than 3,000 singers from local choirs will join forces and share the spirit of solidarity at the Manchester Together - With One Voice event in the city's Albert Square from 7.30pm-9pm.
Among those performing are the Manchester Survivors Choir, a group made up people who were at the Arena on the night of the fateful Ariane Grande concert, and Parrs Wood High School's Harmony Group, whose post-attack tribute went viral last year.
If you need help following the Arena attack last year, we're here for you. For updates and information on organisations that can support you financially, emotionally and practically, sign up for the dedicated newsletter here: https://t.co/oxIqyY9ux7pic.twitter.com/TwTYiwWamb
-- Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 21, 2018
A mass 30-minute communal singalong finale promises to be the highlight of the concert, with songs including Ariana Grande's One Last Time, One Day Like This by Elbow, Don't Look Back In Anger by Oasis and Never Forget by Take That.
At 10.31pm, bells will ring out from the city's Town Hall, St Ann's Church and St Mary's RC Church to mark the moment when the attack took place 12 months ago.
Salman Abedi, 22, detonated his bomb device at the end of the concert with 353 people, including 175 children, around him in the foyer of the venue.
A total of 22 people were killed and more than 800 others were either physically or psychologically injured.