King Charles III led the nation in a two-minute silence in memory of fallen military personnel in central London on Sunday as the Princess of Wales looked on, a further sign the royal family is slowly returning to normal at the end of a year that saw two of the most popular royals sidelined by cancer.
Remembrance Sunday is a totemic event in Britain, with the monarch leading senior royals, political leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his eight living predecessors, and envoys from Commonwealth countries laying wreaths at the Cenotaph, the Portland stone monument that serves as a focal point for honoring the country’s war dead.
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The service is held on the second Sunday in November to mark the signing of the armistice to end the First World War “at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. Throughout the United Kingdom Kingdom services are held at the same time. in memory of the dead.
After the two minutes’ silence, buglers from the Royal Marines played the Last Post and Charles led the wreath-laying portion of the service.
The 75-year-old king, dressed in his Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet uniform, laid a poppy wreath at the foot of the cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War.
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His eldest son and heir apparent, William, left his own floral tribute, featuring the feathers of the Prince of Wales and a new ribbon in Welsh red.
Dressed in somber black, his wife Kate, as usual, watched from a balcony of the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Queen Camilla, who would normally be standing next to the princess, was not present when she recovered from a respiratory infection.
It is the first time since the beginning of the year that Kate has had two consecutive days of public official engagements. On Saturday she attended the Royal British Legion Festival Of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
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After the wreath-laying ceremony, approximately 10,000 veterans, including those who fought in wars this century, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq, marched past the Cenotaph. As time passed, only a handful of World War II veterans were present.
Charles’ ceremonial role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces is a holdover from the time when the monarch led his troops into battle. But the bond between the monarchy and the military is still very strong, with soldiers taking an oath of allegiance to the king and members of the royal family supporting military personnel through a variety of charities. Charles and William served on active duty in the military before taking on full-time royal duties.
“They show respect for us, as we showed them by serving,” said Victor Needham-Crofton, 91, an army veteran who served during the 1956 Suez Crisis and later in Kenya.
Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February, forcing him to take a two-month hiatus from public appearances as he focused on his treatment and recovery. Just a few weeks later, Kate announced her own cancer diagnosiswhich left her sidelined for much of the year as she underwent chemotherapy.
Toby Melville / AP
The king has been in good form in recent months and recently completed a taxing trip to Australia and Samoa. Kate, who made her first public appearance after diagnosis at the monarch’s birthday parade in June, is slowly returning to public duties.
Prince William this week reflected on the strain cancer fears have put on the royal family.
“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for dealing with the things they did,” William told reporters Thursday as he wrapped up a four-day trip to South Africa. “But from a personal family perspective, it was, yes, it was cruel.”
While the Cenotaph was the centerpiece of the national memorial service, communities across the UK held their own ceremonies on Sunday.
Needham-Crofton, who served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers before a truck accident ended his military career, had planned to attend a local service in Eastbourne on the south coast of England.
Alberto Pezzali / AP
He has spent much of his time honoring veterans and trying to help them, including 20 years as a volunteer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. As with some of his army duties, raising money was quite grueling, as you had to collect coins in front of London Underground stations to help fund the group’s efforts.
“I like to respect all veterans and do what I can for them,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s actually a brotherhood. Even if you don’t know a veteran you meet, you feel a kinship with them. That is very important to me. I will stay that way for the rest of my life.”
