Remembrance 2020

Wednesday, 4 November: Field of Remembrance

The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. The Field will be filled with crosses over the coming days, each of which represents a member of the Armed Forces who has given their life in service of their country. 

The Field of Remembrance was opened by The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of Sussex joined his grandfather at the event for many years

At today’s event, The Duchess of Cornwall stood for a two-minute silence to remember those who have died in service of their country, before planting a cross in the Field of Remembrance. 

Her Royal Highness is Patron of The Poppy Factory.

Saturday, 7 November: Festival of Remembrance

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall recorded individual tributes for the Royal British Legions annual Festival of Remembrance, which were included in a pre-recorded programme on BBC one.

The Prince paid tribute to the Armed Forces, saying:

In this challenging year, we have perhaps come to realise that the freedoms for which they fought for us are more precious than we knew, and that the debt we owe them is even greater than we imagined

The Prince of Wales, Festival of Remembrance

Meanwhile, The Duchess of Cornwall, Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Medical Service, commended military and civilian nurses.

Sunday, 8 November: Remembrance Sunday

The Queen and Members of the Royal Family attended the annual Remembrance Day Service at The Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

The Queen viewed the Service from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building. A wreath was laid on The Queen’s behalf by The Prince of Wales. An Equerry laid a wreath on behalf of The Duke of Edinburgh.

As the bells of Big Ben tolled eleven, and a single gun on Horse Guards Parade was fired, two minutes of complete silence was held in remembrance of all lost in war. Once a further round of gunfire signified the end of the silence, the bugle call 'The Last Post' was played, honouring all who have lost their lives in conflict. 

The Service at the Cenotaph was also attended by 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 Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Later that day The Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, attended Welsh Guards Black Sunday Service and Wreath Laying at The Guards’ Memorial.

Wednesday, 11 November: Armistice Day

Every year, the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ - the moment when hostilities ceased between the Allies of World War I and Germany and the First World War ended - is marked with Armistice Day commemorations.

This year also marked the centerary of the unveiling of the Cenotaph - the setting for the annual national service - and the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. 

The Prince of Wales laid a replica of the wreath laid by his great Grandfather King George V 100 years before.

The service also included a reading from His Royal Highness, and The Duchess of Cornwall laid a posy on the grave of the Unknown Warrior.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex marked the two-minute silence at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Sunday, 15 November: National Day of Mourning, Berlin

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have visited Berlin to attend events commemorating the National Day of Mourning.

The National Day of Mourning remembers all victims of war and tyranny, and this year focused on the German-British friendship, which has grown in the 75 years since the end of the Second World War. 

The Prince and The Duchess visited the Neue Wache Central Memorial, dedicated to victims of war and tyranny, where His Royal Highness laid a wreath and Her Royal Highness laid a posy at the centre of the stone memorial.

Their Royal Highnesses then attended the Central Remembrance Ceremony at the Bundestag, the German Parliament, where The Prince of Wales gave a speech.