Ask Onix
Prince George joins royals at Festival of Remembrance in London
Prince George made his debut appearance at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday, accompanying King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at London's Royal Albert Hall. The 12-year-old sat beside his mother, who wore a handcrafted poppy made of silk, glass, and natural fibers, as the audience honored military personnel who lost their lives in service.
The event, held on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two and the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the British armed forces. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, were also in attendance.
Tributes to veterans and LGBTQ+ service members
The festival included performances by Sir Rod Stewart and Sam Ryder, alongside military bands such as the RAF Squadronaires. Actress Hannah Waddingham, who hosted the event, paid tribute to her 109-year-old grandfather, a Royal Navy veteran, and thanked all who had served.
Among the attendees were veterans who helped plan the D-Day landings and former prisoners of war. Members of the LGBTQ+ veterans charity Fighting With Pride were also present, including former Petty Officer Alex Rasmussen, who was discharged from the Royal Navy in 1996 due to his sexuality. King Charles had previously honored LGBTQ+ military personnel in October by unveiling a memorial dedicated to them.
Prince William absent amid climate summit duties
The Prince of Wales did not attend the event, as he was returning from Brazil after addressing world leaders at the COP30 UN climate change summit and visiting a remote island.
Remembrance Sunday ceremonies to follow
On Sunday, King Charles will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph in central London, joined by senior royals and political leaders. Around 10,000 veterans, including approximately 20 World War Two survivors, will participate in the Royal British Legion's march-past.
"We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today," Prime Minister Starmer said in a statement. "Eighty years since the end of the Second World War, we remember a generation who stood against tyranny and shaped our future. Their legacy is peace, and our duty is to protect it."
Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
Commemorations will take place nationwide, honoring those who served in conflicts since World War One, which ended on November 11, 1918.
