Dame Vera Lynn: Royalty and Boris Johnson lead tributes

The Queen, Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson are among those paying their respects to Dame Vera Lynn, who has died aged 103.

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Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera, whose songs helped raise morale in World War Two, was best known for performing hits such as We’ll Meet Again.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen will send private condolences to Dame Vera’s family, while Clarence House posted a tribute on Twitter.

Mr Johnson praised her "charm".

The PM said Dame Vera’s "charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours".

Clarence House shared images of the singer receiving her honour at Buckingham Palace as well as meeting Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Queen echoed Dame Vera’s famous WW2 anthem during a speech to Britons who were separated from families and friends during the coronavirus lockdown in April, telling the nation: "We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Her songs still speak to the nation in 2020 just as they did in 1940."

BBC director general Lord Hall said: "What sad news. Not only was she dear to many, she was a symbol of hope during the war and is a part of our national story.

"She demonstrated how music and entertainment can bring joy in the most challenging times. Something that will resonate with many people today."

Dame Vera’s family said they were "deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers".

In a statement, they confirmed she died on Thursday morning surrounded by her close relatives.

WW2 veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £32m for NHS charities during the coronavirus lockdown, said: "I really thought Vera Lynn would live longer, she’s been speaking so well on TV recently.

"She had a huge impact on me in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life."

Sir Cliff Richard, who performed with her on the 50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995, said she was "a great singer, a patriotic woman and a genuine icon".

He recalled his "best, and favourite, memory" of sharing a stage with her in front of Buckingham Palace that year.

"We walked to the stage through a crowd of survivors of that war, and they were reaching out to touch and get a smile from Vera," he remembered.

"I heard the words… ‘God bless you’ … ‘Thank you’ … ‘We love you’ for their very own Forces’ Sweetheart! A great singer, a patriotic woman and a genuine icon.

Katherine Jenkins, whose virtual duet was seen on the recent 75th VE Day anniversary, said Dame Vera’s voice "brought comfort to millions".

"It was she who chose the sentiments of her songs — she knew instinctively what people needed to hear, how to rally the morale and her spirit and strength created the soundtrack of a generation," she added.

’Inspiration to all’

Michael Ball said she was "an inspiration to us all", adding: "We shall never see her like again."

He wrote that "her talent was so very rare and special".

Elaine Paige wrote on Twitter that she was "very upset to hear the sad news", and posted photographs, including one of herself with Dame Vera.

Alfie Boe, one of the younger generation of singers who appeared on an album released for Dame Vera’s 100th birthday in 2017, said: "It was a real pleasure to sing with her — an honour I will treasure forever."

Aled Jones, who also appeared on that album, echoed those sentiments.

Actress and singer Sheridan Smith, who performed Dame Vera’s anthem We’ll Meet Again for the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year, told BBC Radio 5 Live her music is "so relevant today, just as it was back then".

"She boosted morale with her music and brought the nation together though music, and it’s been very relevant recently. A lot of people have been using it again at this strange time," Smith said. "She’ll never be forgotten. Her music lives on."

Lesley Garrett told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One that Dame Vera was "still able to stir us" until late in life.

"She had the ability to communicate to an extraordinary degree, and there was nobody who she didn’t touch," she said.

"She had the ability to move everybody in the country — royalty, politicians, you name it, she was an inspiration to them."

’Instantly recognisable’

Lyricist Sir Tim Rice also paid tribute, saying: "Dame Vera Lynn was one of the greatest ever British popular singers, not just because of her immaculate voice, warm, sincere, instantly recognisable and musically flawless.

"She will be remembered just as affectionately for her vital work in the Second World War and for her own Charitable Foundations in the 75 years since. A link with more certain times has been irrevocably broken."

BBC director general Tony Hall said she "demonstrated how music and entertainment can bring joy in the most challenging times".

BBC One will broadcast a special tribute programme at 19:30 BST on Thursday, and BBC Radio 2 will repeat a special edition of The People’s Songs about We’ll Meet Again at 21:00 BST on Sunday.

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