Boris Johnson joins stars at awards ceremony for armed forces
The Prime Minister’s father and celebrities including Liam Payne, Alan Shearer and Shirley Ballas were also at the event in Westminster.
Boris Johnson was joined by celebrities and members of the armed forces at an awards ceremony recognising the contributions of the British military.
Liam Payne, Alan Shearer and Shirley Ballas were also among the famous faces from the worlds of entertainment and sport attending the Sun Military Awards, also known as the Millies.
He was wearing a distinguished flying medal that belonged to his father, an RAF pilot.
The Prime Minister did not take questions from the press as he arrived at Banqueting House in Westminster.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Johnson hosted sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians who have supported them at a Downing Street reception ahead of the awards.
According to the Sun, the Prime Minister praised the servicemen and women for their efforts.
He said: “My political career has had many ups and downs but there is no way I would have become the Prime Minister if it hadn’t been for the British Armed Forces.”
The red carpet event came after Mr Johnson Snr said Chinese officials were concerned that the Prime Minister did not send a personal message of support to the country’s leaders amid the coronavirus outbreak.
His comments came to light after he accidentally included someone at the BBC in the list of officials he emailed after meeting Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming to discuss environmental matters.
On the meeting with Chinese officials, Mr Johnson Snr told PA: “The great thing about that is with what enthusiasm the Chinese are really taking their responsibilities.
Downing Street said Mr Johnson Snr is a private citizen and was not acting for the Government in any official or unofficial capacity.
The former politician and I’m A Celebrity star said “these things happen” when asked about the email being leaked.
He told PA: “That was a terrible accident, because it so happened that the name of the lady I was sending an email to, the lady in the ministry of environment, turns out that she had exactly the same name as the lady in the BBC.
“Anyway, these things happen.”
Dancing On Ice judge Barrowman, who wore a red tartan suit for the occasion, said he was “grateful” to servicemen and women for risking their lives.
He told PA: “We need to do things to help the men and women and LGBTQ+ people who are in the military and protecting us worldwide.
“They make sacrifices that I think are just unbelievable and some people have also lost their lives, which I don’t know if I could sacrifice myself like that for someone, it’s just a question that’s never entered my mind.”
The event, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, was established in 2008 by the Prince of Wales and the Sun newspaper.
