Armistice Day 2025 saw poignant scenes across the United Kingdom as members of the Royal Family led tributes to those who have fallen in military conflicts. Marking the 107th anniversary of the end of World War One, the Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, and other royals participated in ceremonies that brought together communities, veterans, and schoolchildren in acts of remembrance and reflection.
For the first time, the Princess of Wales attended the national service at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. According to Sky News, Catherine arrived dressed in a military-style black coat, a wide-brimmed black hat, and adorned with two red poppies—a symbol of remembrance that has become synonymous with honoring the dead of war. As the clock struck 11am, she joined the nation in a solemn two-minute silence, the Last Post echoing across the memorial grounds.
Stepping forward, the Princess laid a large wreath of poppies at the memorial, pausing for a moment of reflection. She bowed her head as the crowd joined in prayer for those affected by conflict. After the ceremony, Catherine visited the memorial wall where she met the family of Squadron Leader Mark Long, whose name was the most recent to be engraved after his tragic death in a Spitfire crash during Battle of Britain Memorial Flight duties in 2024. The encounter highlighted the deeply personal nature of remembrance, connecting the sacrifices of the past with the present.
The service in Staffordshire also featured a specially commissioned poem, read by the arboretum's poet in residence, Arji Manuelpillai. As reported by the BBC, Manuelpillai explained, "A Sonnet For Us All captures the stories etched into the hundreds of memorials within the National Memorial Arboretum... These human connections, and the gentle responsibility to carry love forward, are themes that resonate not only with me, but also with HRH The Princess of Wales, for whom the importance of service and compassion lies especially close to the heart."
Elsewhere, Queen Camilla undertook a moving journey from Chippenham in Wiltshire to London, joining the Great Western Railway's (GWR) Poppies to Paddington initiative. The scheme, which began during the pandemic, enables individuals and groups unable to travel to London to send their tributes via early morning trains. According to Royal Central, the Queen boarded the 09:28 train, dressed in a dark green outfit that matched the livery of the GWR carriages. Local schoolchildren from Monkton Park Primary presented her with a wreath made from over sixty crocheted poppies—a project led by Gemma Hopkins and described by chairman of Chippenham's Royal British Legion, Richard Reeves, as "blown away by the children’s understanding of war history and remembrance."
One young pupil, Isabelle, explained the significance of the poppy: "We were taught the poppy was a symbol for the soldiers and the battlefield because it is the only flower that would grow after the war." Another, Jacob, added, "It's really cool to know they're going to be on a big display." The Queen accepted the wreath graciously, even joking with the children about her outfit matching the train, replying, "of course."
The train carried dozens of wreaths from towns across southwest London and south Wales, regions historically linked to London through the railway and whose sons and daughters once traveled similar routes to the front lines. Upon arrival at Paddington Station, Queen Camilla was greeted by a short but moving ceremony on Platform One, where the Military Wives’ Choir performed and the station fell silent at 11am for the national tribute. The Queen bowed her head, laid her wreath at the war memorial—an imposing bronze statue of a World War One soldier reading a letter from home—and met with veterans and choir members.
According to the BBC, the ceremony at Paddington was surrounded by a display of small wooden crosses with poppies, and the Queen’s wreath joined many others in a vibrant carpet of remembrance. The initiative, started during the pandemic, has become a cherished tradition, allowing communities from afar to participate in the capital’s commemorations.
Meanwhile, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, reached out to the next generation with a video message for the Royal British Legion’s annual assembly. Addressing thousands of schoolchildren aged 9 to 14, he emphasized the enduring importance of remembrance. As quoted by the BBC, William said, "When we remember, we connect with service in a personal way. We learn from the courage of others, and we carry their stories forward, so they are not forgotten. It's not just about the past—it's about shaping who we become in the future. Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience and responsibility. And when we wear a red poppy or take a moment of silence, we are saying, 'Thank you. We have not forgotten, and we will not forget.'"
There was also a new generation of royals participating in the commemorations. Prince George, aged 12, made his debut at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on November 8. He attended alongside his mother, the Princess of Wales, King Charles, and Queen Camilla, sitting in the front row of the royal box. The King himself led the nation on Remembrance Sunday, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the country.
Across the Commonwealth and beyond, similar acts of remembrance took place. Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was in Australia at Gallipoli Barracks, laying a wreath and meeting with current and former armed forces personnel and their families. In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Champs-Elysées, underlining the international significance of the day.
These ceremonies, large and small, formal and informal, all served to reinforce the message that remembrance is a living tradition, passed from one generation to the next. Whether through a wreath laid by a royal, a poem recited at a memorial, or a knitted poppy offered by a schoolchild, the commitment to honor those who served and sacrificed endures.
As dusk fell on November 11, 2025, the echoes of the Last Post lingered, a reminder that while the world changes, the act of remembrance continues to unite people in gratitude, empathy, and hope for peace.
