On Sunday morning, the nation will fall silent as the King conducts his first Remembrance Day service as monarch.
King Charles will lay a new poppy wreath that includes a ribbon in his racing colors, paying homage to the wreaths worn by his late mother and grandpa, George VI.
On behalf of the Queen Consort, a wreath will be laid for the first time as Camilla observes from a balcony.
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away nine weeks ago, regarded Remembrance Sunday as one of the most significant and essential royal events.
50 years ago, the then-Prince of Wales laid his first wreath at the cenotaph. In the subsequent decades, he has always lagged behind his mother in obtaining the most profound understanding of what his new military obligation entails.
Alastair Graham, his former equerry, stated, “He understands the history and multitude of connections between the sovereign, the Royal Family, and the Armed Forces far better than any member of his staff… I believe it is an integral part of his role as King, and he recognizes that there is an indelible link to the Armed Forces.”
Mr. Graham, who served in the navy for over 25 years, assisted the prince between 2002 and 2004, coordinating his schedule and serving as his liaison with the armed services.
During this time, Britain was engaged in the Iraq War, allowing him to witness the future king’s commitment to the military firsthand.
Mr. Graham told me, “As soon as the war began, the program (diary) was effectively thrown out the window, and we were tasked with rearranging the program to ensure that His Majesty could give as much time as possible to the regiments, families that were left behind while their loved ones were serving, and maintain very close links through the chiefs of staff to understand what was going on and how the war was progressing in his normal role as Prince of Wales at the time, but one of
According to many who know him well, his awareness of military life emerged early, not just due to familial ties but also via his training in all branches of the armed forces, making him the most militarily-trained king we’ve ever had.
Mr. Graham added, “He trained as a navy officer and a royal air force pilot, both fixed wing and rotary wing, not just to get the badge, but to comprehend the complexities of flying jets and helicopters in the services.”
Again, not to be perceived as a hero, but to understand the rigors, he completed parachute company training and earned parachute wings.
The Queen determined in 2017 that it was no longer practical for her to lay her wreath, thus she delegated this responsibility to the prince.
It was deeply symbolic that the Queen passed the responsibility to her son during her lifetime – it was a transition occurring before our eyes in a way we had never witnessed.
It also means that while it will be his first time as King on Sunday, the fact that we’ve seen him do it before means that it won’t be a complete distraction from those the Royal Family wants us to remember the most.
This year, around 10,000 veterans will participate in the Royal British Legion march past, with 400 Falklands veterans representing the largest contingent. An estimated 10,000 spectators will line Whitehall to observe the event.
Andrew Lawless, whose Chinook helicopter crashed during the Falklands conflict forty years ago, will be there for the first time to commemorate his friends, and he says that the King’s presence will be just as cherished as his mother was for so many years.
Mr. Lawless stated, “He said himself that he wants to follow in his mother’s footsteps, so we know he has a strong sense of duty and service,” adding, “there is a somber aspect to it as well, and when I’m marching past the Cenotaph, I’ll be thinking of the names of friends who are no longer with us.”
This weekend, Queen Elizabeth II was also honored in Westminster Abbey’s field of the memorial, and she will continue to be a focal point at the Cenotaph, as her son, the King, now leads the family and the nation as we all pay respect to those who have served.
