Honoring the Fallen at the Cenotaph
The Princess of Wales, Catherine, joined the royal family on Sunday for the annual Remembrance Day service in London to honor those who lost their lives in wars. The ceremony took place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, where members of the royal family gathered to pay their respects.
King Charles III, who recently returned from his first long trip since being diagnosed with cancer, led the family in honoring the fallen soldiers. The 75-year-old king laid the first wreath at the base of the monument. Attached to it was a handwritten note that read, “In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice.” The wreath design was similar to one used by his grandfather, King George VI, and featured poppies and the King’s racing colors.
Prince William also laid a wreath adorned with the Prince of Wales feathers and a ribbon in Welsh red. Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, Kate, watched the ceremony from a balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Royal Family in Attendance
Other members of the royal family who attended included Prince Edward, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. The event, held on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, included a parade of 10,000 veterans. The nation also observed a moment of silence as Big Ben struck 11 a.m.
Leaders Pay Their Respects
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, also attended the ceremony. They were joined by eight former prime ministers: John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.
Princess of Wales’ Return to Public Life
This was the Princess of Wales’ second public appearance over the weekend. She announced her battle with cancer eight months ago. In September, Kate, who is 42, revealed that she was cancer-free and would gradually return to her royal duties. Last month, she joined Prince William on a visit to Southport, where they met the families of three children who tragically died in a knife attack.
Festival of Remembrance
On Saturday evening, Kate attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. She wore a black dress with a poppy brooch as she joined the royal family for the event, which honors the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces. This year, the festival marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, 25 years since NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, and 10 years since the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.
Queen Camilla’s Absence
Queen Camilla did not attend the events due to a chest infection. Buckingham Palace confirmed she was following doctors’ advice to rest and recover. A spokesperson said that the Queen “will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.”
Prince William Reflects on a Challenging Year
Prince William recently talked about the challenges his family has faced this year, calling 2024 “dreadful” and “the hardest year of my life.” During an interview at the end of his Earthshot Awards trip to South Africa, he said he was proud of his wife and his father for their strength.
King Charles’ Upcoming Birthday
In the coming days, King Charles will celebrate his 76th birthday by opening two new food distribution centers—one in person and the other virtually. This marks the first anniversary of his Coronation Food Project, an initiative he started to help reduce both food poverty and waste.