The real reason Kate Middleton wears three poppies on Remembrance Sunday

The Cenotaph in London will once again be central to this year’s Remembrance Day service as people congregate across the country to pay their respects.

In London, Whitehall is open to the public from 8am on Sunday, November 10, when many gather to march to the Cenotaph, arriving by 10:30am.

At precisely 11am, guns from The King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade fire the signal for the start of the two-minute silence, followed by 11 chimes from Big Ben.

In many people’s hearts, the most significant moment in the annual Remembrance Day Service is the two-minute silence. 

At 11.02, the King steps forward and lays a wreath, followed by political leaders from Britain and the Commonwealth

Prince William lays a wreath wearing his distinctive red-collared Officer’s Cloak of The Blues and Royals, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The wreath featured a new ribbon in Welsh red

Keir Starmer, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were among former prime ministers at the Cenotaph last year

Veterans marching past the Cenotaph and out of Whitehall on a rainy Remembrance Sunday service in 2023

It’s as if the world comes to a standstill. Nothing moves and the silence is complete, ended only when the lone gun is fired, and the Last Post is played.

As Sovereign, King Charles III is Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces in Britain and the Commonwealth and he will appear wearing the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the most senior rank possible.

At 11.02, His Majesty, King Charles 111, steps forward to lay his wreath, followed by political leaders from Britain and the Commonwealth, of all major parties, and also the Mayor of London. 

Other members of the Royal Family, all in uniform, including Prince William and Anne, The Princess Royal, wearing her Royal Navy uniform, follow suit.

This year, there is hope that Catherine Princess of Wales will attend.  

 No doubt she will be the focus of attention if she is present, particularly as the last time she was present, she wore three poppies. 

The reason? To honour her great-grandmother’s three brothers, who all lost their lives in the First World War. Queen Camilla will not  be there due to a chest infection but, the last time they were both present was in 2023, where they watched the parade from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 

During her long and successful reign, The King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended every Remembrance Day Service. Of course, she well remembered the Second World War having served in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, and her husband, Prince Philip, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, seeing action several times in various areas.

He was on HMS Whelp in 1945 when the surrender was accepted. So his association with the Royal Navy in particular went back many years and he never forgot those days.

Queen Elizabeth II lays a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph, watched by the Prime Minister and members of the Government on the 60th anniversary of the Armistice

Prince Philip had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, seeing action several times in various areas. He was actually on HMS Whelp in 1945 when the surrender was accepted

The Princess of Wales famously wears three poppies during the ceremony to honour her great -grandmother’s brothers who were killed in the war

At precisely 11am, guns from The King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade fire the signal for the start of the two-minute silence, followed by 11 chimes from Big Ben

Wreaths laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, on Remembrance Sunday by The King and The Queen

Our present Sovereign, Charles III, has received a unique military training for Kingship, having served in all three branches of the Armed Forces when he was younger. 

Back to this year’s ceremony. The service ends at 11.25am, which is when those members of the public who have been waiting patiently nearby come to add their wreaths and other floral tributes. Some 10,000 people turn up every year and the number is growing. The respect never diminishes. It is one of few moments when the entire country comes together.