The annual national act of commemoration on Remembrance Sunday will be private for the first time. On November 8th 2020, the Queen is expected to oversee the ceremony which will be closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Department for Media, Culture and Sport announced on October 15th that this year’s events at the Cenotaph in London will only involve the Royal Family, some politicians and military leaders. Everyone else is asked to pay their respects at home. It is the first time there will be no public participation at the event since the beginning of commemorations during the reign of the Queen’s grandfather, King George V, following the end of the First World War.
In recent years, the Prince of Wales has laid the wreath for the Queen who has watched from a balcony overlooking Whitehall. Her floral tribute is placed on behalf of the nation in remembrance of and in thanks for all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives for their country. Other members of the Royal Family also lay wreaths as do politicians.
It’s not yet known which members of the Royal Family will attend the ceremony. The decision to close the event to the public came on the day that it was confirmed London would enter Tier 2 coronavirus pandemic restrictions, meaning that households can no longer mix indoors.
