Camilla dedicates wreath to fallen soldiers as she supports King Charles at The Cenotaph
Camilla attended the National Service of Remembrance today for the first time as Queen Consort.
Kate Middleton and Camilla pay respects on Remembrance Day
Camilla, Queen Consort, joined her husband, King Charles III, as he marked the first National Service of Remembrance since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8. Camilla looked on as her husband and sovereign laid a newly-designed red, purple and gold poppy wreath in a touching nod to both the late Queen Elizabeth II and the new monarch’s grandfather, King George VI.
The wreath, designed by The Poppy Factory in west London, featured a distinctive show of the King’s racing colours on a ribbon of red poppies placed on an assortment of black leaves.
Standing next to Kate, Princess of Wales, from one of the balconies of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Queen Consort also watched as an equerry laid on her behalf a poppy wreath.
The wreath, the first-ever to be laid at the Cenotaph on behalf of Camilla, included the racing colours she inherited from her grandfather.
At 11am, as the service began, Camilla and Kate were among the millions of Britons to fall silent for two minutes to commemorate the fallen.
The poignant silence took place at the same time the Allies and Germany signed, in November 1918, the armistice which ended World War 1.
As the service was ongoing, Kate and Camilla were spotted smiling at one another, singing hymns and taking part in prayers.
Leading the service, the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, delivered a prayer saying: "O Almighty God, grant, we beseech thee, that we who here do honour to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country and of the Crown may be so inspired by the spirit of their love and fortitude that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives, we may live only to thy glory and to the service of mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Among senior royals to lay wreaths today was Prince William, whose poppy wreath featured the Prince of Wales’ feathers and a new ribbon in Wales red.
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Other members of the Royal Family at the service were The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as the Duke of Kent.
Today's ceremony was deemed particularly poignant for two reasons by Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of Defence Staff.
Appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday, the Admiral noted this was the first Remembrance Sunday marked since the death of Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British head of the Armed Forces.
It is also taking place as the conflict in Ukraine, which began in February following Vladimir Putin's invasion of the neighbouring country, is ongoing.
He said: "I think Remembrance Sunday is always poignant. I think it's poignant for the whole nation, this special moment when we pause to reflect on the sacrifice and commitment of others to provide our freedom today.
"I think there's a special poignancy this year with both the loss of Her Majesty, another loss of a World War 2 veteran.
"I also think it's poignant when we have once again the spectre of war in Europe and all that that entails, and a country that's been invaded and is fighting for its freedom."
Moreover, this year's service comes on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Several veterans who took part in the conflict against Argentina in the spring of 1982 marched by the Cenotaph this morning.
Among them, retired Brigadier Jon Mullin, who served as a Lieutenant in the 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers at the Falklands, explained why he wanted to take part in the service today.
Reflecting on the sacrifices made during the conflict in the Falklands, he said: "I wanted to be part of a national commemoration to commemorate all those people who did this wonderful feat of arms and put it all together, and many have passed on in the intervening years.
"I think it's important that the nation doesn't forget the sacrifices."