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Prince Harry meets Abbey officials and members of the Armed Forces as he arrives at Westminster Abbey
As as the chimes of Big Ben rang out across the area to mark 11:00am, Prince Harry stood to attention and saluted for the sounding of The Last Post. The Abbey and its assembled crowd honoured a two-minute silence before the Prince made his way into the field to view the various plots dedicated to Armed Forces regiments.
Prince Harry salutes as The Last Post is sounded at the Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey.
Spectators lined the streets around Parliament Square and towards the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre to try to catch a glimpse of the Prince, many of whom had planted tributes to loved ones themselves. One pair of ladies spoke about how the service was a “dignified way of remembering the fallen” and “the right thing to do” and how they had also attended the visit last year when Harry accompanied his grandfather, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Alongside his Royal duties, Prince Harry is a serving member of the British Army and is a Captain in the Blues and Royals.
The Blues and Royals is one of the most senior regiments in the Army; second only to The Life Guards. Part of the Household Cavalry, the regiment is the only one to be officially known by their nickname (The Blues and Royals) as opposed to their full name, The Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons.
Prince Harry has previously served in Afghanistan; his first tour being in 2007/8 and his second in 2012/3.
He was pulled out of his first tour after German and Australian publications broke an embargo placed over the information by the Canadian and British authorities.
The dozens of tributes at the Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey
Crowds pay their respects and browse the tributes at the Field of Remembrance.
The first Field of Remembrance was held in the grounds of Westminster Abbey in November 1928 when only two Remembrance Tribute Crosses were planted. Today, hundreds had been planted at the Abbey in recognition of the many different faiths and religions of the fallen.
Previously, tributes were limited to Remembrance Crosses however they have expanded to include the Star of David, the Muslim Crescent, the Sikh Khanda, the Hindu Om or a secular tribute; which is not related to any particular faith.
The large wreath at the Field of Remembrance, bearing the arms of the British Army.
Today’s visit marks the first of a series of Remembrance events for the Royal Family this year.
At the same time this morning, The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of Cambridge, joined The King of the Belgians and The Grand Duke of Luxembourg to open the Flanders’ Field Garden at Wellington Barracks, about 5 minutes away from the Abbey.
More information on the Fields of Remembrance, dedicating a Tribute for next year and the variety of Remembrance Events taking place over the coming weeks is available from The Royal British Legion website.]]>
