The Queen has placed a simple wooden cross as a tribute to all those lost in war in the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Camilla made her tribute as she officially opened the Field of Remembrance in London.
It’s the 97th time a Field of Remembrance has been planted in the grounds of the Abbey to remember those who gave their lives for their country.
The annual tribute is organised by the Royal British Legion and allows everyone to honour those lost in conflict.
Queen Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey in a striking, military inspired outfit. The navy blue coat, with a red collar, is inspired by the uniform of the Royal Lancers. The Queen is their Colonel-in-Chief and her father, Major Bruce Shand, served in the 12th Royal Lancers in World War Two.
There was another special tribute on The Queen’s outfit as she chose the 12th Royal Lancers’ Brooch that previously belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. It features the Prince of Wales feathers over crossed lances as well as a Queen’s crown.
The Field of Remembrance contains personal tributes from former military personnel as well as family and friends. People buy a simple tribute, a wooden cross bearing a single poppy, to be planted in one of the ‘fields’ that are marked out around the Abbey. This year there are 229 fields in which fallen soldiers and remembered.
During a short service, Queen Camilla planted her own wooden cross in remembrance.
The tributes are made by the Poppy Factory – Queen Camilla is its patron. The Field of Remembrance began in 1928 as a simple tribute by former soldiers and has since become a national event.
Later, Her Majesty met serving military as well as veterans and families from The Rifles, The Royal Army Chaplain’s Department, The Royal Lancers, The Grenadier Guards, The RAF Association (RAF Halton and Leeming), New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the Royal Navy Medical Service and The Submariner Association (HMS ASTUTE).
The visit came just hours after The King had spent time at a GP practice which is among the first to join the NHS Veteran Friendly programme which trains surgeries to support veterans and their families and link them up with services that can offer mental health and rehabilitation care.
Later this week, The King and Queen will be joined by other members of the Royal Family at the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
On Remembrance Sunday, King Charles III will lead the nation in tribute as he lays a wreath at the Cenotaph. The Prince of Wales, currently in Brazil, will also lay a wreath while Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales watch from a balcony overlooking Whitehall.
On Armistice Day itself, November 11, the Princess of Wales will attend a Service of Remembrance at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales will host a reception for VJ veterans at Windsor Castle on Armistice Day.
