The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh took the centre balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for the Remembrance Sunday service.
The royal duo watched the Remembrance Sunday service, which saw King Charles, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal lay wreaths on behalf of the nation and the military. Equerries for Queen Camilla and the Duke of Kent laid wreathes on their behalf.
This is only Catherine’s fifth public appearance this year following chemotherapy and recovery from an abdominal surgery. She attended Saturday evening’s Festival of Remembrance service at the Royal Albert Hall as well. Back in the summer, as she announced that she was turning the corner with her chemotherapy treatments, she said that she hoped to be well enough to attend Remembrance Sunday engagements.
Catherine and Sophie both wore three poppies on their dresses. Catherine is said to wear three poppies in honour of her great-grandmother’s brothers, all of whom were lost in the First World War.
Queen Camilla had been due to attend the ceremony, however an ongoing chest infection led her to cancel all Remembrance Sunday engagements Saturday morning on the advice of her doctors.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events.
“While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.”
The Duke of Kent watched the ceremony from the side balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office alongside Sir Timothy Laurence. Due to his age and mobility issues, the Duke does not participate anymore.
