Royal Family change their profile photos to mark Armistice Day

The Royal Family changed their social media profile photos to mark Armistice Day.

Instagram accounts for the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, all swapped smiling snaps for sombre poppy photos. 

It comes as Camilla today led Britain in a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day as the nation was finally able to gather together again following the relaxation of Covid rules. 

Tribute: Instagram accounts for the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, all swapped smiling snaps for sombre poppy photos. The Queen opted for a photo taken on Remembrance Day in 2004 (seen above) 

Smiling: The Royal Family profile picture was previously this one of the Queen, taken during a visit to the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House in London, in February 2020

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall previously used a portrait released in 2019 to mark Wales Week. The image shows the couple smiling outside their official Welsh residence of Llwynywormwoo in Myddfai.  

It was replaced earlier this week with a photo of the couple from the launch of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in October. 

Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge swapped their light-hearted profile snap, taken on a visit to Ireland, with a close-up of a poppy. 

Royal aides managing the Queen’s Instagram account took down the photo of Her Majesty taken at MI5 in February 2020, in favour of one from a Remembrance Sunday event in 2004.

The Queen also shared an Instagram post, with the caption: ‘On the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ in 1918 the Armistice was signed. Today the nation falls silent at 11:00 in an act of Remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed.’ 

Simple: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opted for a close-up shot of a poppy, pictured 

Candid: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been using this sweet snap, taken during a clifftop walk in Ireland in March 2020

The Royal Family occasionally change their profile photos to mark important events. It was last done following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in April. 

The Queen is not attending any events today but is expected to lead tributes at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. 

The mantle was taken up by the Duchess of Cornwall. 

On a still, crisp autumn morning outside Westminster Abbey, Camilla led commemorations at the 93rd Field of Remembrance, which has been held since November 1928.

After a bugler played the Last Post, Camilla and hundreds of veterans from past conflicts stood motionless as the chimes of Big Ben rang out. Everyone observed two minutes of silence as London traffic rolled past.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall’s picture was replaced earlier this week with a photo of the couple from the launch of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in October

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall previously used a portrait released in 2019 to mark Wales Week. The image shows the couple smiling outside their official Welsh residence

It comes as Camilla today led Britain in a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day as the nation was finally able to gather together again following the relaxation of Covid rules 

In Staffordshire, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, featuring readings, musical performances and wreath laying.

The two-minute silence was also marked by COP26 President Alok Sharma at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. In Edinburgh, a single gun sounded from the castle ramparts.

In London, a service took place by the Cenotaph – the traditional focus of commemoration – and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer marked the moment at a war memorial by Euston station.

And at England’s training ground in Burton on Trent, Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the squad in front of a St George’s Cross flown at half mask.

The Queen also shared an Instagram post, with the caption: ‘On the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ in 1918 the Armistice was signed. Today the nation falls silent at 11:00 in an act of Remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed’