The Princess of Wales made a significant appearance at a major national event on Saturday, accompanied by her eldest son, Prince George, for his first ever Festival of Remembrance.
The young royal joined his mother, the King, and Queen Camilla at London's Royal Albert Hall for the emotionally charged ceremony hosted by the Royal British Legion.
A Poignant Royal Gathering
The Royal Family entered the iconic venue to the sound of trumpets and proceeded to the royal box for the event, which was broadcast on BBC One. This year's festival held dual significance, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the UK government lifting the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual personnel serving openly in the armed forces.
Also seated near the royals were Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer. Notably absent was the Prince of Wales, who was returning from the COP30 UN Climate Change summit in Belem, Brazil.
Commemorations and Performances
The evening featured powerful performances from a range of artists, including music legend Sir Rod Stewart, Eurovision star Sam Ryder, and actress Keala Settle. They were joined by the Central Band of the RAF, the RAF Squadronaires and the Band of HM Royal Marines.
A moving moment saw the royal family stand as Chelsea Pensioners in their distinctive red uniforms marched across the stage to an orchestral rendition of The Boys of the Old Brigade. The audience included veterans who had helped plan D-Day, former prisoners of war, and survivors of direct hits at sea.
Singer and actor Hannah Waddingham hosted the event, performing the classic We’ll Meet Again and sharing a personal story about her grandfather, who was a veteran.
Royal Symbols and Sunday's Service
The Princess of Wales chose her attire with care, wearing a black dress with a white collar by Alessandra Rich. She accessorised with a handmade poppy by Izzy Ager, an HMS Glasgow brooch, and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Observers noted that Kate was seen gently pointing out elements of the ceremony to her son, Prince George, guiding him through the significance of the occasion.
The King, who was announced as a patron of the Royal British Legion last year, was seen smiling and waving to the audience as he departed. The commemorations will continue on Sunday, when King Charles will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London.
