A Sombre and Significant Change
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, appeared visibly emotional as she joined the nation in quiet reflection for the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. The senior royal watched from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as King Charles III and her husband, Prince William, laid wreaths at the national war memorial.
The sombre occasion was marked by a national two-minute silence at 11am, with the Princess wrapped up against the cold in a dignified black coat and matching hat. However, keen-eyed royal watchers spotted a significant departure from her usual tradition.
A Symbolic Shift in Tradition
In a break from her established custom, the Princess of Wales chose to wear a single, large poppy on her lapel. This contrasted with her typical choice of three large poppies, a style also adopted this year by Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie.
While the Palace has never officially confirmed the reason, one widely held theory suggests that royals wear multiple brooches to honour family members who have fought and died in conflicts. For Kate, this is particularly poignant; her great-grandmother had three brothers who were all killed in action during the First World War.
The Princess had previously viewed letters from these ancestors during an emotional visit to the Imperial War Museum back in 2018. The late Queen Elizabeth II famously wore a cluster of five poppies, which many believed represented the five branches of the armed services.
Continuing the Commemorations
Kate's appearance at the Cenotaph follows her attendance at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall the previous evening. She was joined by her son, Prince George, for what was his first time at the annual event.
For that occasion, she wore a black Alessandra Rich dress with a white collar, accessorised with an HMS Glasgow brooch and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen. She was seen chatting with and pointing out elements of the ceremony to her son.
Her dress featured a special handmade poppy created from silk and glass by Izzy Ager, a recent graduate of the Royal School of Needlework.
A Nationwide Tribute
The Princess's commemorative duties are set to continue. On Tuesday, Armistice Day, she will visit the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. According to Kensington Palace, she will attend a service at the Armed Forces Memorial, where she will lay a wreath and observe the national two-minute silence at 11am.
The service will feature a reading of a specially commissioned poem by the Arboretum’s Poet in Residence, Arji Manuelpillai, focusing on the bonds formed through military service—a theme close to the Princess's heart.
Following the service, Kate will view newly dedicated names on the memorial and meet with veterans. She will also speak with secondary school students from military families whose parents are currently deployed, highlighting the vital contribution of service families. Her visit will conclude with a viewing of the 'Letters from the Frontline' exhibition.
