On Saturday night, The Duchess of Cambridge joined Her Majesty the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, and members of the Royal Family at Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance.
Every year since 1927, The Royal British Legion’s annual festival commemorates the British soldiers who laid their lives for the nation during World War at Royal Albert Hall on the eve of Remembrance Sunday.
It includes a matinee open to members of the public and an evening event for members of the Legion, their families, officials, and royals.
This year Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, Re. Rev James Newcome leads the blessing and Royal Albert Hall president Jon Moynihan and Air Marshal David Walker, president of the Royal British Legion were the hosts for the evening.
Her Majesty who took the patronage of the Royal British Legion in 1952 has missed only 2 events since then. You can find out more about the historical event at the official website of the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Family watched the festival from the hall balcony, where The Duchess was seated next to the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy was also present at the event.
Prince William and Prince Harry were notably absent from the event as they attended rugby matches separately today.
The event started with the Royal Fanfare, played by State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.
In 1917, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) became the British Army’s first all-female unit. 100 women from HM’s Armed celebrated the centenary at the event.
Emeli Sande, Tom Odell, Melanie C, Alfie Boe, and Lesley Garrett alongside The Queen’s Colour Squadron and The Band of HM Royal Marines performed at the event.
The audience sits captivated during the enchanting performance by Alfie Boe and Natalie Lowe.
The audience stands to support and welcome bereaved families, who are led by Molly and Heather Stephens.
The hymn ‘O God, Our Help In Ages Past’ is sung as Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, Re. Rev James Newcome prepares to recite the Bidding Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.
Silence falls whilst the Last Post is played.
The poppies fall silently onto the heads of those who are serving as HM The Queen observes.
National anthem God Save the Queen closed the Festival of Remembrance. Saturday was also the day on which 99 years ago on the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ an armistice was signed ending, hence it is celebrated as Armistice Day.
Moving on to the sartorial detail, this was the 3rd appearance of the Duchess of Cambridge at the Festival of Remembrance.
A look at Catherine’s 2015 and 2016 looks.
The silk velvet coat is the bespoke version of the label’s Caressa Jacket.
The Caressa jacket is described on the label’s website as: “The structured, nipped-in silhouette with a gentle flick at the hem contrasts beautifully with the full skirt. Jet, glass, and silver Swarovski buttons lend a further eye-catching dimension on this black silk velvet jacket.”
Duchess Catherine paired the outfit with Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings that we first time saw during the Spanish banquet this year in July. The earrings were a gift to the late Princess of Wales Diana. Catherine was seen supporting a huge poppy.
The Duchess carried a black Magid clutch and chose Gianvito Rossi pumps for the evening.
