Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales wore three poppies each as they paid tribute to Britain’s fallen heroes at the Cenotaph in London.
As is tradition, the Royals were in attendance for the annual ceremony on Remembrance Sunday and watched on as the King and Prince William led an emotional service.
Thousands of mourners, including Andy Burnham, attending the first service of his premiership, bowed their heads as they observed a two-minute silence during the ceremony on Whitehall.
The female members of the Royal Family were dressed in all black as a sign of respect to those who lost their lives fighting for the nation.
It is not known for sure why the Royals wear three poppies on Remembrance Sunday, but there are several poignant theories which could be behind the choice.
One suggestion is that the three poppies symbolise the three branches of the military: the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
It has also been said that Princess Kate wears them as a tribute to her three great-uncles, all brothers of her great-grandmother, who died during World War One.
Another possibility is that they wear the trio of poppies for maximum visibility for the television audience and the watching public.
Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales wore all black with three poppies at The Cenotaph in London
Britain’s King Charles, Britain’s Princess Anne and Britain’s Prince William lay wreaths
Camilla and Kate watched the ceremony from the balconies of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) building, which directly overlooks the Cenotaph monument on Whitehall.
This year, Kate chose Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and the HMS Glasgow Brooch.
The brooch was gifted to her ahead of the official naming ceremony of the Type 26 frigate, which was unveiled this year.
The jewellery signifies her role as the Lady Sponsor of the Royal Navy warship and honours Scottish heritage, maritime tradition, and military patronage.
The pair were joined on the balconies by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Around 10,000 veterans took part in the Royal British Legion’s march past, with over 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations represented.
People of all ages marched on Whitehall today – from bereaved children and military cadets, through to some of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War.
Charles took centre stage and laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to World War One, and was followed by Prince William.
Wearing a field marshal uniform complete with a greatcoat, cap and sword, the King saluted as he stepped back from the monument in Whitehall after leading the nation in a two-minute silence.
His wreath closely resembled one produced for King George VI, with 41 paper poppy petals mounted on an arrangement of black leaves.
Thousands of mourners bowed their heads as they observed a two-minute silence during the ceremony on Whitehall
William, wearing the uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel of the Household Cavalry with black cloak and sword, also saluted after laying his wreath.
The Prince of Wales, who in 2013 completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time operational military service, promotes the roles and welfare of current and former service personnel as a key part of his work.
The Prince was followed by wreaths being laid by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.
Andy Burnham led a record number of prime ministers past and present at the Cenotaph today on Remembrance Sunday.
Mr Burnham was joined by nine former premiers as he laid a wreath honouring Britain’s war dead in Westminster.
Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer lined up behind serving political leaders.
The ten leaders attending the event in Whitehall is a modern record and highlights the fractured state of UK politics in the past decade.
It is the first time Sir Keir has attended since being forced from office by Labour to make way for Mr Burnham earlier this year.
It marks the fifth time Ms Truss has attended since her 49-day premiership in the middle of 2022, the shortest in British political history.
Former British Prime Ministers, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major
Veterans in attendance included around a dozen of the last surviving Second World War veterans, the oldest of whom is 105.
Jeffrey Brereton, 105, served as a mechanic on Hurricane aircraft during the Battle of Britain.
He volunteered for the RAF in 1940, aged 19, and left to join the fire service in 1946, according to the firefighters charity.
The youngest taking part in the march was eight-year-old Ronan Doncaster, who walked in honour of his father – a guardsman with the first battalion Coldstream Guards who died in April 2024
