Kate and Queen lay Armistice Day wreaths as nation pays tribute
The Princess of Wales and The Queen have both attended services in the United Kingdom to mark Armistice Day.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, marking the first time she has done so. There, the Last Post signalled the start of the national two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT to mark the end of the First World War.
The Princess laid a wreath at the armed forces memorial, surrounded by veterans and their families. She appeared to take a moment of reflection before returning to her seat, where she bowed her head during prayers for those affected by war.
The service in Staffordshire also featured the reading of a specially commissioned poem by the arboretum's poet-in-residence, Arji Manuelpillai. Mr Manuelpillai said his poem, A Sonnet For Us All, "captures the tales embedded into the hundreds of memorials within the National Memorial Arboretum, encouraging people to reflect and consider the emotion that inspired these sculptures."
Meanwhile, after travelling by train, Queen Camilla attended a wreath-laying service at Paddington Station in London for service personnel and their families.
The Prince of Wales also sent a video message to young people, advising that wearing a red poppy is "for everyone" and that "remembrance is for everybody." The message was part of a virtual event for children aged nine to fourteen.
In his address, the Prince said: "We remember, we connect with service in a personal way. We learn from others' courage and we carry their stories forward so they are not forgotten. It's not just about the past; it's about influencing who we will be in the future.
Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience and responsibility. Whether we wear a red poppy or sit for a moment of silence, we are saying thank you. We haven't forgotten, and we will not forget."
Later on Tuesday, the Prince of Wales is expected to join The King and Queen at Windsor Castle for a reception honouring veterans of the Pacific campaign during the Second World War. The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester are also scheduled to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day).
Elsewhere, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a wreath-laying ceremony on the Champs-Élysées in Paris to commemorate the armistice signing at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Concurrently, the Princess Royal is visiting Australia. Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, laid a wreath at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks during an event attended by current and former armed forces personnel and their families.
