Queen Elizabeth Makes a Poignant Appearance at the Annual Remembrance Sunday Service
It is one of the staple, and most sombre, events in the royal calendar. Members of the British royal family were out in force today at the annual Remembrance Sunday service to honor those who have lost their lives in conflict. The Queen was joined at The Cenotaph memorial in central London’s Whitehall by Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie and Princess Anne and husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Prince Philip, who retired from public duties in 2017, was not present for the second year running.
For the third year in a row the Queen, 93, did not lay a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph but watched from a balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office building instead. The royals made their appearance just before Big Ben struck 11 a.m. The Queen stood on a balcony between the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge. The Duchess of Sussex was on another balcony between the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence. The royals laying wreaths lined up in front of the Cenotaph.
When they were all in place the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a single shot on Horse Guards Parade and a two minutes of silence were observed. The silence was ended by a gun salute and the Royal Marines buglers sounding the Last Post. This year marks 100 years since the first two minute silence on November 11, 1919 marking the moment the First World War came to an end a year earlier.
Prince Charles first laid the nation’s wreath as the Queen looked on, then an equerry laid a wreath on behalf of Prince Philip. Prince Charles then laid his own wreath followed by Prince William, Prince Harry, and Prince Andrew. Then Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and the Duke of Kent followed suit. Political leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also laid wreaths. Following the service there was a scheduled march past the war memorial with some 10,000 veterans taking part.
The royals have been attending events all week to mark remembrance and last night they were out in force attending the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Performers included actor Jeff Goldblum and his band as well as singer songwriter James Blunt. The service ended with a two minute silence and the falling of poppy petals, each one representing a life lost.
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