The King and Queen led the Royal Family at this morning's Cenotaph service in tribute to all those who gave their lives in conflict. The Royal British Legion's march past saw roughly 10,000 ex-servicemen and women representing more than 300 Armed Forces and civilian organisations.
Royal Attendees at the Service
Joining King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales also stepped out for the service this morning. The royals in attendance also included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
The royals stepped out at last night's Festival of Remembrance, with many of those in attendance also appearing at today's service. The monarch led the two-minute silence at 11 am, and laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph.
Wreath Laying and Balcony Positions
Whilst the King, Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward presented their wreaths, the Queen's was laid by Major Rob Treasure, The Rifles, whilst the Duke of Kent's was laid by an Equerry from The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Carabiniers and Greys, Captain Thomas Baker-Cresswell.
Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh were standing on the left balcony. The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla were standing on the centre balcony, whilst the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Gloucester were on the right balcony.
Notable Absences
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, although now living in the UK, were not present at today's service at the Cenotaph. The couple are no longer working royals and are thought to be commemorating the day privately today.
The disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also did not join his siblings and family at today's service. The 66-year-old was stripped of his royal titles and honours last year over his connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As first reported in 2022, Remembrance Day wreaths laid by Harry and Andrew were taken off display at the Poppy Factory. This was likely seen as an embarrassment for both men, as they had served in the military. However, with Harry stepping down from royal duties in 2020 and Andrew in 2019, it was deemed no longer necessary to keep their wreaths on display.
A source at the site in Richmond, southwest London, told The Mirror in 2022: "Harry used to have his wreath on display in the centre’s old exhibiting area, but it isn’t any more. We’ve got rid of it – and all the duplicates we kept too."
The factory still displays wreaths from other senior members of the Firm, such as King Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and Princes William and Edward.
