When the clock strikes 11am on Monday, people across the world will stop what they’re doing and take one minute out of their day to stand in silence and pay their respects to members of the armed forces who have lost their lives in conflict, and Britain’s royal family did the same on Sunday as they attended the annual remembrance day service at London’s Cenotaph.
Her Majesty the Queen led the way on Sunday as senior members of the royal family gathered on the balconies at The Cenotaph to watch the wreath-laying service. The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York all laid a wreath at the historic site, after a two-minute silence had been observed. An equerry from the royal household also placed a wreath on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, who retired from public life in 2017.
Catherine stood in pride of place next to Queen Elizabeth II on one balcony, dressed in a military-style coat by Alexander McQueen. She paired the dress coat with a stunning fascinator, which featured a delicate black veil and a pair of pearl earrings from the Queen’s own collection.
While the Queen donned a smart black boucle coat and matching hat, with two large buttons on the front. As usual, the monarch wore five red poppies pinned to her chest as a way of showing her respect for all five branches of the armed forces.
The pair were joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, who is recovering from a chest infection which forced her to pull out of an official engagement with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex earlier in the week. Camilla looked on as her husband Prince Charles participated in the official event, dressed in a classic button-up coat and extravagant feathered hat, with three poppies on her left shoulder.
Meanwhile Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stood shoulder to shoulder with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Sir Tim Laurence, the husband of Princess Anne, on a separate balcony. The duchess looked sombre as she bowed her head in prayer on the balcony, watching on as her husband participated in the wreath-laying service.
The mother-of-one followed the lead of the other royals as she opted to dress in black from head to toe as a mark of respect to Britain’s war dead. Meghan wore a black lace dress, just visible beneath her heavy woollen coat which fastened with a thick belt around her waist, teamed with a wide-brim black felt hat and leather gloves. She wore a bright red poppy on her left lapel.
Sophie Wessex also donned a thick black coat for the occasion, which she paired with a statement fascinator. Along with the other royals, Sophie wore a poppy pinned to her chest, alongside the cap badge of the Rifles regiment of the British Army. While Tim Laurence, 64, donned his full military regalia for the rare royal outing.
The annual service is held on Remembrance Sunday – the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on November 11. As members of the public, along with former and existing members of the armed forces and politicians gathered to pay their respects, buglers from the Royal Marines played the iconic tune The Last Post. The event is held in remembrance of the end of the First World War, which finally concluded on November 11 more than 100 years ago.
The service on Sunday followed the annual Festival of Remembrance concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, which was attended by several members of the royal family, and a service at Westminster Abbey on Thursday. Representing the royals, Prince Harry and Meghan attended the 91st Field of Remembrance earlier in the week, each planting a small Cross of Remembrance at the London site as a tribute to the dead.