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British Royals

Locked-down and socially distanced – The Royal Family attend a Remembrance Sunday service like no other

The Queen and Members of The Royal Family attended a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph like no other this weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of the ongoing public health emergency, for the first time ever, the Cenotaph was not open for the public to pay their respects.

In normal years, tens of thousands of veterans would march past the Cenotaph with thousands more people lining the street to cheer them on.

This year, just 26 veterans were permitted to take part in the march to ensure the safety of all participants.

Remembrance Sunday has fallen just a few days after England entered a second national lockdown meaning people must stay at home except for work, education or caring responsibilities.

As such, it was not possible for large scale commemorations to have taken place as would have been the original plans, not least due to the advancing age and vulnerability of those who usually take part.

On the ground, a small number of people laid wreaths at the base of the Cenotaph. These participants remained socially distanced at all times.

Among those laying wreaths were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent.

Meanwhile, The Queen and their spouses were watching on from the balconies of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which overlooks Whitehall.

The Queen was stood on a balcony alongside a Lady-in-Waiting, who kept a safe distance from each other.

On the other two balconies were the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Countess of Wessex and Sir Tim Laurence, who again, remained socially distanced throughout.