This year marked the centenary of the Royal British Legion, a charity synonymous with Remembrance Day and the Poppy Appeal. 2021 also saw HM The Queen pull out from remembrance events due to a sprained back. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Remembrance events were back in full swing after last year's events were scaled back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This gave them an added poignancy, and for many veterans, this year gave them the chance to see friends and fellow ex-servicemen and women after not being able to see each other after so long.
On 11th November, Remembrance Day itself, various members of the royal family commemorated the day. The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. There she examined the rows of crosses laid out in a tradition set in 1928 by The Poppy Factory. Following a tradition set by the late Duke of Edinburgh, as the visit fell on Remembrance, or Armistice Day, the 11th November, the Duchess visited the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, and laid flowers on the grave.
At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the National Armistice Day Service. The Countess of Wessex took the salute at their annual Armistice Day Parade in Bedworth, Warwickshire. 2021 marked the centenary of the parade in Bedworth, which is the largest outside of London.
On 12th November, a video was released of Joint-President of the Scouts the Duchess of Cambridge, in conversation with Italy Star veteran Colonel David Blum OBE, and ten-year old Cub Scout Emily Edge, talking about remembrance, and marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion. This year the Duchess of Cambridge has created the Scouts’ Centenary Remembrance Badge; scouts can earn this badge by taking part in remembrance activities such as a parade, service, or making poppies.
On 13th November the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra all attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. This annual event is organised by the Royal British Legion and sees different performances, music, film footage, interviews, and speeches brought together to remember those who gave their lives. The festival concludes with a service and prayers and two minutes silence as hundreds of poppies are released from the roof and fall down upon those gathered below.
On Remembrance Sunday, 14th November, the annual event at The Cenotaph took place. The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Wessex, and Princess Royal all laid wreaths, with the Prince of Wales laying a wreath on behalf of the Queen, who usually watches from a balcony but was too unwell to attend this year. A wreath was also laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent, who watched from a balcony accompanied by his sister Princess Alexandra. The Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Cambridge, and Countess of Wessex also watched from a balcony. After the two minutes silence and wreath laying, a short service was led by the Bishop of London. Many pieces of stirring music were featured, and the National Anthem was also played and sung. To me the national anthem was particularly poignant this year due to the absence of the Queen and the words became a prayer for her recovery. But of course rightly the focus remained on remembering those who died in conflict. During the march past parade the Duke of Cambridge took the salute.
As with every year, the events surrounding Remembrance Day were fitting and respected. The royals continue to uphold these events, giving them validation and helping the nation to have a focus and lead. They indeed represent us as we remember. Many of them have fought and trained with the military themselves.
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