In the week of Remembrance, the Queen, and members of the Royal Family, join the nation in commemorating and honouring the men and women who have sacrificed themselves in service to our country. This year marks a century since Armistice Day. 100 years ago the First World War ended, and a new world began. We don't often see such a large number of royals at one event, but Remembrance week is very much the exception, when we're guaranteed to see the family out in force commemorating those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Duchess was greeted upon arrival.
The Queen has been patron of the Royal British Legion since 1952, only missing two festivals in the many years since taking the role. Her Majesty arriving tonight; she looked particularly resplendent.
William and Kate take their seats.
Royal attendance included the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Duke of York, 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.
Charles and Camilla in the Royal Box.
The Royal British Legion's annual festival commemorates those who have lost their lives in service of their country. It takes place on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, with two performances on the day - a matinée open to members of the public and an evening event for members of the Legion, their families, officials and royals.
The very first ‘Festival of Remembrance’ was called In Memory 1914-1918 - A Cenotaph In Sound, in aid of the British Legion, Field Marshal Earl Haig’s Appeal for Ex-Service Men of all Ranks, and was held on 11 November 1923. A royal delegation including HRH the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and then styled as the Duke of Windsor following his abdication) was in attendance to hear John Foulds’ new composition, 'A World Requiem: A Cenotaph in Sound', performed by a chorus and orchestra.
In 1927 the concert was simply renamed the ‘Remembrance Festival’ and featured community songs including 'Pack up Your Troubles', 'Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty', and 'Tipperary'. The event ended with a service that has now become familiar, featuring 'The Last Post' and ending in 'God Save the King'.
The Royal Albert Hall shared this photo of the family attending the concert in 1984.
A host of well-known names including Sir Tom Jones, Sheridan Smith, Sir Bryn Terfel, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Kingdom Choir performed alongside the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Band of HM Royal Marines. Both Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Kingdom Choir performed at the Royal wedding of the Sussexes in May.
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason played a beautiful rendition of 'Hallelujah' on the as bereaved families held photos of loved ones.
2018 also marks the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
The Torch of Remembrance enters the hall. Veteran Colin Bell read: "They came because country called."
The audience stand to welcome bereaved families, led by Des and Maureen Feely, whose daughter Corporal Sarah Bryant was killed in Afghanistan in 2008 aged just 26.
On each seat in the Royal Albert Hall lay a photo of a fallen soldier.
During the festival, a video of William sharing the story of his patronage, the new National Defence and Rehabilitation Centre, was featured.
🎥 As part of the #FestivalofRemembrance, The Duke of Cambridge, Patron of the @DNRCOfficial Appeal, shares the story of the new National Defence and Rehabilitation Centre – which has been supported by the @PoppyLegion. pic.twitter.com/d5RCCxq6pg— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 10, 2018
A beautiful performance of 'Lord's Prayer' was sung by the Kingdom Choir.
Poppies fall from above during the two minute silence.
To mark Remembrance Week, a very special installation has taken pride of place at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2016, fifty-one transparent seated military figures were installed in the Penshurst Church for Remembrance. This solemn tribute left an indelible impression on all who saw it. Two years later, building on the impact this action had, There But Not There has been installed at the hall.
A representative said: "It is a great honour for the Hall to welcome There But Not There on this very special anniversary. This occasion was marked by installing the ghostly silhouettes of World War One soldiers or ‘Tommies’ within the famous stalls of the Home of the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance. There But Not There is a special centenary commemoration of the end of the 1914-1918 war, installed where the men and women came from across the country, back in the communities they left behind.
The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s biggest fundraising campaign held every year in November, the period of Remembrance. This year, they are asking people to come together to mark the end of the WW1 centenary by saying 'Thank You' to all who served, sacrificed and changed our world. Please click here to support the appeal.
A series of installations have been unveiled across the UK to highlight reasons to say ‘Thank You’ to the First World War generation. The Legion is calling on the nation to wear their poppies with pride and back its ‘Thank You’ movement in the year that marks the end of the First World War centenary.
To launch the appeal a six-metre high poppy installation has been unveiled to the public at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, with veterans and serving personnel in attendance. Poppy red threads featuring messages from the First World War generation reach out from this central point and are positioned to face in the exact direction of poignant partner locations across the UK.
The installations aim to highlight how the legacy of the First World War is woven through the fabric of the nation, often in unexpected places. The messages written on the threads and the locations have been chosen to acknowledge the wide range of contributions from across the First World War generation.
The Duchess looked elegant in an asymmetric black dress by Roland Mouret.
The black wool and stretch silk dress features a distinctive asymmetric neckline, 3/4 length sleeves and the designer's signature gold zipper. It's currently sold out at online retailers. It can be viewed at FarFetch.
Kate carried a new Jimmy Choo Celeste bag in black velvet (with thanks to Heaven).
It appears the Duchess pinned her poppies on the Queen's pearl and diamond leaf brooch.
A closer look at Kate wearing the brooch in Belgium in 2017.
The Duchess debuted a new pair of pearl earrings. It was thought they might be a pair on loan from the Queen, however upon closer inspection it seems they are different.
Kate completed the look with black suede pumps. Heaven suggests they are the Jimmy Choo Romy style.
We'll see William and Kate with members of the Royal family at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday in the morning.
