A former Royal Marine will bring together Jeff Goldblum, James Blunt and Leona Lewis with military bands and musicians at the Royal Albert Hall ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The festival has been organised by music director David Cole, who has won three Baftas for his work.
On Tuesday, Mr Cole, 70, was presented with an OBE from Prince William after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to music and The Royal British Legion. He said: “Music is an essential part of life because it creates emotion and poignancy. You can’t have a remembrance service without music.”
Mr Cole spent more than 30 years in the Royal Marines and also served as its music director. He described the annual Festival of Remembrance concert on Saturday as the “highlight of my year” and said he felt he had a responsibility to be its custodian.
