‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’
King Charles III accompanied by Queen Consort, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence, led the country at the annual Remembrance Sunday Service. The event was the first since the death of Queen Elizabeth II who in her more than 7 decades-long reigns, missed the service only 7 times. She was on overseas visits to Ghana in 1961, Brazil in 1968, Kenya in 1983 and South Africa in 1999. The Queen missed the services in 1959 and 1963 due to her pregnancy. In 2021, The Queen backed out of the event due to a sprained back.
Taking place every year at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on the second Sunday of each November, the National Service of Remembrance provides the nation with a physical reminder of all those that have served and sacrificed, with British and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors, airmen and women represented.
Queen Elizabeth II is also remembered today, a monarch who provided a living link to World War II for so many people.#RemembranceSunday pic.twitter.com/VF09hr0Hs1
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) November 13, 2022
Like every year, The service began with a two-minute silence in honour of fallen war heroes who gave their lives to protect our future and freedom. The silence represents the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when the guns of Europe fell silent. The time is marked by the firing of a field gun on the Horse Guards Parade.
A Wreath is laid at the Cenotaph by His Majesty The King.
This tradition was started by King George V in 1920, who unveiled the Cenotaph, and has been continued by every Monarch since.#LestWeForget#RemembranceSunday pic.twitter.com/Y7NG3Bz7VI
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 13, 2022
King Charles III laid the wreath on the behalf of the nation. Then an Equarry laid a Consort’s wreath.
Next, The Prince of Wales laid his wreath. He used by his father featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and with a new ribbon in Welsh red. Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex laid their wreaths.
The King leads the nation in silence to remember those killed in conflict.#RemembranceSunday pic.twitter.com/S5cEGBYTLI
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) November 13, 2022
For the first time, the new Queen Consort joined the new Princess of Wales on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall. On the other two balconies were The Countess of Wessex with The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Sir Timothy Laurence stood with the Duke of Kent.
The tradition of laying the wreath was inaugurated by King George V in 1919. A cenotaph is an empty tomb or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. The Cenotaph, originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens was unveiled by King George V on 11 November 1920 at the same ceremony which saw the Unknown Warrior laid to rest. The original design was a wood-and-plaster structure. The current stone Cenotaph, identical to the original design, is a Grade II building and is undecorated save for a carved wreath on each end and the words “The Glorious Dead,” chosen by Lloyd George.
The #RemembranceSunday service at the Cenotaph comes to an end with a rendition of ‘God Save The King’.pic.twitter.com/1S9z4c6rGa
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) November 13, 2022
The service ended with the National Anthem.
For the day, The Princess of Wales wore a black Catherine Walker military-inspired Evie coat dress. Thanks to What Kate Wore reader Iréne for the id. The coat dress featured diagonal pintuck details across the chest and shoulder.
The Princess paired the coat with a custom-made Philip Treacy OC833 Trilby Hat. As expected she was wearing three poppies that paid a tribute to her three grand-uncles.
Catherine topped the coatdress with Bentley and Skinner Art Deco Diamond Set Brooch. The Sold-out piece was described as, “An Art Deco diamond set brooch, of rectangular shape with corners, cut away, with an openwork pattern comprising of a central, round brilliant-cut diamond with an estimated weight of 0.35 carat, with a baguette-cut diamond to the top and bottom of the rectangle, total estimated diamond weight 4.5 carats, all mounted in platinum, circa 1920, measuring approximately 4.4×2.2cm, gross weight 11.4 grams. A sparkling Art Deco brooch. This brooch is of a classically Art Deco design, with geometric shapes and fine openwork platinum set throughout with lively diamonds. This beautiful piece was made around 1920 and captures the glamour and elegance of the Jazz Age.” Reportedly the vintage piece was sold sometime in January 2022. Catherine celebrated her 40th birthday in January 2022 so it could be her 40th birthday present from either the then Prince Charles or Prince William.
The Princess was wearing Princess Diana’s Diamond and Pearl Earrings.
She was carrying her Mulberry Bayswater clutch.