Remembrance 2022

Published 10 November 2022

Each year members of The Royal Family undertake engagements focussed on the Armed Forces commemorating those who have died in world wars and other conflicts. This year, events were led by The King for the first time following his Accession.

This year Members of the Royal Family will attend the following events:

Thursday, 10th November

This year's Remembrance engagements began with The Queen Consort attending the opening of the 94th Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. There are Fields of Remembrance across the country: plots of land in which people plant wooden crosses, each one dedicated to a member of the Armed Forces who lost their life in service. The fields also act as a central point for veterans and serving military personnel to gather and commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Field in Westminster Abbey is attended by a member of the Royal Family each year.

Her Majesty met members of the Armed Forces community past and present at the Field, which is set up by the Royal British Legion. She laid her own cross in front of more than 1,000 veterans who had gathered in the Abbey’s grounds.

About 70,000 crosses and other symbols are laid out in 308 plots noting regiment, unit or association, all planted in the grass by volunteers.

After a short ceremony Her Majesty observed a two-minute silence to remember those who lost their lives in conflict.

Friday, 11th November

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended The National Memorial Arboretum Armistice Day Service in Staffordshire.

Saturday, 12th November

Members of the Royal Family attended the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Festival was attended by The King and The Queen Consort, The Prince and Princess of Wales, 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.

This year’s theme reflected on the value of ‘service’ and included a special tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who was the Royal British Legion’s Patron for 70 years.

Sunday, 13th November

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

The King laid a new wreath, the design of which pays tribute to the wreath of His Majesty’s grandfather, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II. The wreath’s poppies are mounted on an arrangement of black leaves, as is traditional for the Sovereign, and its ribbon bears The King’s racing colours; scarlet, purple and gold. The Royal racing colours were also incorporated into the wreaths of King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen Consort viewed the Service from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building. For the first time, a wreath was laid on Her Majesty’s behalf, by an Equerry from the Royal Household. The Queen Consort’s wreath bears Her Majesty’s racing colours, inherited from her grandfather, and echoes the wreath of the previous Queen Consort, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

The King and The Queen Consort’s wreaths have been produced by The Poppy Factory, and will be accompanied by handwritten cards bearing Their Majesties’ new cyphers.

The Prince of Wales laid the wreath previously laid by the former Prince of Wales, featuring The Prince of Wales feathers. The wreath bears a new ribbon in Welsh red.

The Service at the Cenotaph was also attended by The Princess of Wales, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and The Duke of Kent.