The King and Queen led the royal family in applauding Britain’s servicemen and women during an evening of remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Charles and Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales as they paid tribute to the nation’s fallen and those who have served in the Armed Forces at the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening.
Royal Welcome and Tributes
The audience rose to its feet as the King and Queen entered the hall to a fanfare of trumpets before taking their seats in the royal box.
There was a warm welcome for the Chelsea Pensioners, dressed in their distinctive scarlet uniforms, as they entered the venue to an orchestral rendition of The Boys Of The Old Brigade. The royal family stood and clapped as the veterans made their way through the auditorium.
Charles was later seen standing in the royal box as two members of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth saluted in his direction following a musical performance.
Moments of Applause and Performances
There was further applause as bereaved families made their way slowly into the hall, and again for serving military personnel.
William and Kate were seen smiling together as the troops were welcomed into the auditorium, while Charles and Camilla shared a few words following performances by Alfie Boe and Mica Paris.
Military personnel finished the performance with three cheers for the King, after which Charles smiled and waved to those in the audience. Members of the royal family were applauded as they left the venue.
Attendees and Significance
Kate wore an Alessandra Rich dress, accessorised with the Irish Guards regimental brooch and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. She also wore a handmade poppy.
Also attending were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was accompanied by his wife Marie-France van Heel.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to be marking remembrance events privately this year.
The annual Festival of Remembrance brings together members of the royal family, serving military personnel, veterans and their families to honour those who have lost their lives in service and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Britain’s Armed Forces. Organised by the Royal British Legion, the event features music, personal testimonies and moments of reflection.
This year’s festival marks the 35th anniversary of the end of the First Gulf War and 15 years since the conclusion of British military operations in Iraq under Operation Telic, with veterans sharing their personal stories and experiences of the conflicts.
The King, who became patron of the Royal British Legion in 2024, will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday. The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance was broadcast on BBC One at 9pm on Saturday.
