The British Royal Family attended The Festival of Remembrance

The British Royal Family led the nation in the poignant annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall this evening.  In attendance were King Charles III, Queen Camilla, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent. The annual event followed by Remembrance Sunday Service are the staple parts of British Royal Family’s November Calendar.

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The 2023 Festival of Remembrance marks 80 years since the Battle of the Atlantic and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. The festival was an opportunity for the nation to say thank you to all who served, and to those who sacrificed their lives. The year 2023 also marks the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush’s arrival. At the festival, the extraordinary contributions made by the Windrush generation to the military was also honoured.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesThe Prince and Princess of Wales arriving at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Remembrance week is held every year in November during which various events like Field of Remembrance, Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday services are organized by the Royal British Legion to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts; from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day. People from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds unite to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The Red Poppy that is a symbol  of the Remembrance week represents the loss of lives these conflicts caused and the need for peace around the world and hope for a peaceful future.

Every year a Poppy Appeal is launched through which every poppy sold contributes towards the welfare of the veterans.  This year’s Poppy appeal has  introduced a new plastic-free poppy, made entirely from paper. Maintaining the iconic poppy design and leaf shape, this is the first time in 28 years that a new poppy has been developed. You can participate in the Poppy Appeal here.

Earlier this week, Queen Camilla attended the 95th Field of Remembrance in the grounds Westminster Abbey. The Queen has planted her own Cross of Remembrance following prayers and a two-minute silence. The Field of Remembrance has been organised by the Poppy Factory and held in the grounds of Westminster Abbey since November 1928, to commemorate those who have lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces. The annual Field brings serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans and Forces families together in the grounds of the Abbey remember friends, colleagues and loved ones who lost their lives in service.

King Charles III unveiled a statue of Late Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, at the Royal Albert Hall ahead of the Festival. Just within the span of 18 months country lost its patriarch and then matriarch. Both participated of the World War II – The Late Queen as the mechanic and Prince Philip was a Navy veteran.

The new sculptures of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were commissioned by the Royal Albert Hall to mark their 150th anniversary celebrations. The commissions were given following a competition process involving a shortlist of seven sculptors supported by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), a charity dedicated to supporting excellence in British craftsmanship.

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This year’s Festival of Remembrance paid tribute to the two million National Servicemen who served in the post-war years up until 1963. Hundreds lost their lives, particularly during the Korean War, and the festival marks 70 years since the end of the fighting. 75 years after the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, which is symbolic for the settlers from the Caribbean who helped rebuild Britain. The Festival also honoured those who served in the Battle of the Atlantic 80 years ago, the longest campaign of the Second World War.

The Festival also remembers war veterans who are daily fighting with the horrible injuries of War, their family members and carers. The evening was hosted by Clare Balding CBE and Musical bands involved were The Orchestra of the Household Division, The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, String Ensemble of the Royal Marines Band Service and The Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra.

Some of the service personnel who served in the Korean War share their experiences at the Festival: Brian Parritt, Mike Mogridge and Colin Thackery joined by Brian Hamblett, Trevor John, Ken Keld, Tony White and Ron Yardley. This year marks 70 years since fighting in the Korean War came to an end. The Korean War (1950–1953) saw British and Commonwealth forces answer the call of the United Nations to support South Korea, which had been invaded by its neighbour to the north. Altogether, some 81,000 members of the British Armed Forces served. Casualty rates were high, with more than 1,100 British killed and 2,500 wounded.

On the music of the The Boys of the Old Brigade, the the In-Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea entered the festival. The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment performs Blue Devils, Lincolnshire Poacher, Out of the Blue, Swing, Swing, Swing (It Don’t Mean a Thing/Sing, Sing, Sing), RAF March Past. Mica Paris, MBE, performed her version of Labi Siffre’s (Something Inside) So Strong , accompanied by the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir. Next a tribute to the Windrush 75 was paid. During the Second World War, some 16,000 Black Caribbean men and women volunteered to serve. After the end of the war, around 3,000 decided to stay and help rebuild Britain.

Double Brit Award-nominated drum-and-bass DJ duo and producer Sigma (aka Cam Edwards and Joe Lenzie)  performed Adrenaline Rush featuring Morgan, to accompany dancers from Stopgap Dance Company. The participants from British team at this year’s Invictus Games took the stage. The Invictus Games is an inclusive multi-sport event that brings together wounded, injured and sick veterans and serving personnel from across the globe.

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The the family members of fallen heroes entered the stage while The Bach Choir performs Elegy for Dunkirk Independent UK chorus which was followed by Katie Melua’s performance of Fields of Gold was originally written and recorded by Sting in 1993. The veterans of Battle of the Atlantic entered the stage to pay the tribute to their fellow war heroes who are not here with us any more. The stories of these war veterans remind us of our shared history, how our ancestors have fought hard to bring the peace to the world and how much the same courage is required today to maintain the same peace.

Alfie Boe performed Bring Him Home from his hit show Les Misérables. Then all forms of the army – The Royal Navy, The Army, The Air Force, The Merchant Navy, The Royal British Legion and The Civilian services formed a muster on the stage to exhibit the sacrifices our service personnel make every day.

Then the Book of Remembrance was brought on the stage.  Calum Scott performed You Are The Reason. The Formal reflection on remembrance and service was conducted by the Reverend Scott Brown CBE, National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion. Followed by Malakai Bayoh’s performance of Pie Jesu. Then the festival headed towards conclusion with The Exhortation and The Last Post followed by 2-minutes silence.

The service concluded with the National Anthem.

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What The Princess of Wales wore to 2023 Festival of Remembrance

• Emilia Wickstead Jorgie Ruched Crepe Dress – (Repeat – debuted September 2022)
• The 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards brooch – (New)
• The Queen’s Three Strands Pearl Necklace – (Repeat – Debuted September 2022)
• Queen’s Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings – (Repeat – November 2016)
• Stuart Weitzman ‘Muse’ Clutch – (Repeat – 2011 Denmark visit)
• Aquazzura Purist 105 Pumps – (Repeat – September 2022)

 

Heading towards The Princess of Wales’ style of the evening – as expected Kate chose to repeat for the evening as she has done many times on the same event. She brought the same look back that she wore at the Governors-General Lunch hosted at Buckingham Palace ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The Princess was wearing her black Emilia Wickstead Jorgie Ruched Crepe Dress that she first wore at the Governors-General Lunch in September 2022 ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Embed from Getty ImagesShe paired the outfit with The Queen’s Three Strands Pearl Necklace also debuted in September 2022

and The Queen’s Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. The earrings were made from 2 pearls out of the 7 large pearls gifted to Princess Elizabeth at her wedding in 1947 by the Sheikh of Bahrain.

Kate was wearing her black Aquazzura Purist 105 Pumps also debuted in September 2022

and carried her 2011 Stuart Weitzman Muse clutch.

The new element of the look was The 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards brooch. Catherine received the brooch from the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards when she visited them as their Colonol-in-Chief for the first time earlier this week.