Dame Vera Lynn has urged the British public to "keep smiling and keep singing" on her 103rd birthday.
The singer has earned legendary status in British culture for inspiring the country with her music during World War Two and became known as "The Forces' Sweetheart" after entertaining the troops stationed around the world.
In a post on Twitter, Lynn posted a new video of one of her most famous songs, 'We'll Meet Again', which contains the lyrics: "Keep smiling through; Just like you always do; 'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away."
More than eighty years on from the outbreak of WWII, the globe is gripped by the most serious crisis since then with the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which disproportionately affects the elderly.
"All around the world, people are facing extremely difficult times. It is likely that we will all have to make hard decisions in the coming months," Lynn said.
"I am reminded of World War II, when our country faced the darkest of times and yet, despite our struggles, pulled together for the common good and we faced the common threat together as a country, and as a community of countries that joined as one right across the world."
In 2014, at the age of 97, Lynn became the oldest person ever to top the album charts with her release of Vera Lynn: National Treasure.
Neil Wilkes
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