The Princess of Wales wrote a touching tribute to the fallen as she led a moving Armistice Day service today.
Catherine, 43, arrived at the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire this morning.
Handwritten on a note and attached to a wreath, which she laid at the Armed Forces Memorial, the royal penned: ‘In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we will remember them. Catherine.’
The Princess, wearing a black hat and long coat with two poppies on the lapel, walked to service – the first she has attended at the Arboretum.
Memorial services are being held across the country as millions pay their respects to those who fought and died for their country in the war.
Queen Camilla jumped onboard a train from Chippenham, in Wiltshire, to London Paddington as she took part in a ‘Poppies to Paddington’ initiative to mark Armistice Day.
The crowd stood as Kate arrived to take her seat for the service in Staffordshire, which featured a reading of a specially commissioned poem by the Arboretum’s poet in residence, Arji Manuelpillai.
The poem, which is said to include themes ‘close to The Princess’ heart’, reflects the importance of personal connections, experiences and bonds that are formed through military service, Kensington Palace said.
The service started at 10.45am, with Kate taking part in the traditional two minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. She then laid her wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial, before being invited to view newly-dedicated names inscribed on it. Afterwards she will meet veterans in attendance at the service.
The Princess of Wales attends the Service of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, today
The Princess wears a long black coat and hat to the service as she pays her respects to the fallen
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Catherine lays a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial today, which features a handwritten note
Catherine wrote a touching tribute to the fallen which was attached to the wreath
The Princess of Wales appears emotional at the Armistice Day Service today
A veteran appears emotional at Armistice Day in Bedworth, Warwickshire
The Princess looks solemn as she attends the service to pay her respects to the fallen
Watched by the crowd, which included veterans and their families, Kate stepped forward to lay the large wreath before appearing to take a moment of reflection and then returning to her seat.
She bowed her head as the crowd prayed for those who had been affected by conflict, including members of the armed forces and civilians.
After the service of remembrance, Kate visited the memorial wall, where she was introduced to Squadron Leader Beth Long and her daughters Scarlett and Sophie – the family of Squadron Leader Mark Long who died in a Spitfire crash during Battle of Britain Memorial Flight duties in May 2024.
Mr Long’s name is the most recent to be engraved on the wall. Kate spoke to the family for around five minutes before meeting Bosnia veteran Johnny Hayes, who spent 23 years in the Royal Military Police.
This morning, Queen Camilla took the 9.28am service from Chippenham to Paddington alongside stunned commuters to lay a wreath on Platform 1.
The ‘Poppies to Paddington’ initiative began during the November 2020 Covid lockdown as a way of marking the annual commemorations of the nation’s war dead.
In partnership with The Veterans Charity, wreaths are placed on early morning train services from more than 60 stations, arriving in London for a special Remembrance Day service.
It has since become a key annual event across the Great Western Railway (GWR) network to honour those lost the conflict.
Queen Camilla and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (right) at London Paddington train station as part of the Great Western Railway ‘Poppies to Paddington’ event to mark Armistice Day
Camilla lays a wreath at London Paddington train station as part of the Great Western Railway ‘Poppies to Paddington’ event
Camilla wears a dark green coat to the memorial service in Paddington, London
A view of wreaths of poppies during the Western Front Association’s Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London, today
Members of the UK Armed Forces during the Western Front Association’s Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall
Defence Secretary John Healey (right) and Charles Garrett lay wreaths of poppies during the Western Front Association’s Armistice Day ceremony
Speaking of the poem selected for the service in Staffordshire, Poet Arji Manuelpillai said: ‘A Sonnet For Us All’ captures the stories etched into the hundreds of memorials within the National Memorial Arboretum, it invites people to listen, reflect and consider the emotion that was the inspiration for these sculptures.
‘I hope these words shine a light on the bonds and relationships that lay often hidden by the conflict. Those quiet acts of care, the friendships that endure, and the sense of duty that binds one generation to the next.
‘These human connections, and the gentle responsibility to carry love forward, are themes that resonate not only with me, but also with HRH The Princess of Wales, for whom the importance of service and compassion lies especially close to the heart.’
It comes as Catherine’s husband, the Prince of Wales, is also taking part in events virtually.
William, 43, has recorded a special video message for the Royal British Legion’s ‘Remembrance Assembly’.
Hosted by veteran and presenter JJ Chalmers, the Assembly took place between 10.25 -11.05am, bringing together young people aged 9-14 in schools, libraries, home education and other learning settings across the UK.
It has been designed to encourage young people to take part in Remembrance to honour veterans and others across the Armed Forces community in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
The Assembly has combined music, poetry, art and voices from across the Armed Forces community.
In his video message, the heir to the throne says: ‘Armistice Day is an important time for us to stop and reflect – it is a reminder that Remembrance is for everyone.
‘When we remember, we connect with service in a personal way. We learn from the courage of others, and we carry their stories forward, so they are not forgotten. It’s not just about the past – it’s about shaping who we become in the future.
Catherine attends an Armistice Day service at The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in central England on November 11
The Princess of Wales smiles as she attends the memorial service in Staffordshire
Newcastle Central Station fell silent at 11am this morning as LNER Train staff and members of the public paid their respects
The two-minute silence at Waterloo station, central London earlier today
A service has also taken place in Edinburgh as people across the UK pay their respects
‘Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience, and responsibility. And when we wear a red poppy or take a moment of silence, we are saying, ‘Thank you. We have not forgotten, and we will not forget.’
‘Through my own military experience, as well as through my work in connection with units across the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, I have seen firsthand the hard work, dedication and duty the Armed Forces carry out to ensure we are protected.
‘Coming together for Remembrance is a vital way to honour those whose service keeps us safe.’
He adds: ‘Even today, as we continue to face a number of conflicts across the world, we honour those who have gone before us, and those who are serving now.
‘Their memories matter, their lives matter, and they remind us to be respectful, kind, brave, and thoughtful every day.’
The virtual Assembly is open to participation by students aged 9-14 (Years 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and can be viewed on YouTube or Zoom from schools, libraries, home education and other learning settings across the UK.
Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance for the Royal British Legion said: ‘We’re honoured to welcome the Prince of Wales to this year’s Remembrance Assembly.
‘His contribution, alongside that of veterans and serving personnel, will encourage young people to take part in Remembrance and find their own connection to the Armed Forces community, past and present.’
The Assembly was set to hear directly from current serving military personnel RAF Air Commander Fred Wigglesworth and Army Lieutenant Colonel Manpreet Maycock, alongside first-hand testimony of Second World War veterans.
The Princess of Wales takes part in a moving Armistice Day service featuring a specially-commissioned poem that is ‘close to her heart’ (pictured on Remembrance Sunday)
William, 43, has recorded a special video message for the Royal British Legion’s ‘Remembrance Assembly’
These include 101-year-old George Durrant from West Sussex, who served in Burma from 1944 in the Intelligence Corps in the 14th Army – sometimes called ‘The Forgotten Army.’
Also taking part is Prince Albert Jacob, 100, who grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad, but left aged 17 to join the Royal Air Force, travelling to the US and Britain to repair planes.
He still remembers the day the Allies formally accepted Germany’s surrender.
Mr Jacob was one of millions of soldiers from across the Commonwealth who served alongside the British Armed Forces in the Second World War and is now one of the few surviving Caribbean veterans.
