The Princess of Wales, Catherine, led a heartfelt Armistice Day service today, paying tribute to fallen soldiers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
At the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, Catherine, 43, laid a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial bearing a handwritten note: “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we will remember them. Catherine.” She participated in the traditional two-minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month before viewing newly dedicated names on the memorial and meeting veterans attending the service.
The service featured a specially commissioned poem, “A Sonnet For Us All”, by Arji Manuelpillai, the Arboretum’s Poet in Residence. The sonnet highlights the personal bonds, experiences, and acts of compassion formed through military service, themes described by Kensington Palace as “close to the Princess’s heart.”
Manuelpillai said the poem reflects the hidden connections forged by service, emphasizing care, friendship, and the duty to carry love forward.
Meanwhile, Catherine’s husband, the Prince of Wales, William, 43, participated virtually. He recorded a message for the Royal British Legion’s ‘Remembrance Assembly,’ a program bringing together young people aged 9–14 across schools, libraries, and home education settings in the UK. In his address, William emphasized the importance of remembering the courage of others, connecting with service personally, and passing their stories forward.
The Assembly combined music, poetry, and first-hand testimony from current military personnel and veterans, including 101-year-old George Durrant, who served in Burma during World War II, and 100-year-old Prince Albert Jacob, a Caribbean veteran who served in the Royal Air Force.
Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance for the Royal British Legion, said the virtual Assembly allows young people to connect with the Armed Forces community, past and present, fostering empathy, resilience, and understanding of service.
The service and Assembly underscored the ongoing importance of Remembrance, honouring those who have served and continue to serve, and the enduring human connections formed through military life.
