King Charles led the royal family at this year’s Remembrance Day service, as his wife Queen Camilla and daughter-in-law Kate Middleton joined him to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in conflict
Elli Fry Deputy Features Editor, Jennifer Newton Royal Features Writer, Danny Gutmann and Ellie Fry
16:05, 09 Nov 2025
Princess Kate and Queen Camilla attend Remembrance Sunday service(Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImagevia Getty Images)
Queen Camilla looked on with pride as her husband King Charles presided over today’s poignant Remembrance Day ceremony, laying a wreath and delivering a solemn salute in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in conflict.
Thousands of veterans gathered alongside senior members of the Royal family at the Cenotaph in London this morning, where the Princess of Wales, Prince William and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh united to honour the fallen.
Kate Middleton was dressed in a black coat and coordinating hat as she observed the service from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which overlooks the Cenotaph. She stood beside the Queen, who wore three poppies and a large hat embellished with fur.
Camilla had been compelled to miss last year’s ceremony owing to a chest infection. Last year, Kate held the most senior position on the balconies due to the Queen’s absence.
Queen Camilla returned to the sombre ceremony this morning after missing out last year due to illness(Image: Mark Cuthbert, UK Press via Getty Images)
However, as Camilla returned this year, she reclaimed her position in leading members of the Firm from above.
A lip reader has now revealed a striking word that Camilla shared with Kate on the balcony. The Queen was observed handling some papers in her hand – presumably an order of service – and then whispered a word to herself with Kate nearby.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman told The Mirror that Camilla simply said the word “wow” as she absorbed the moving scenes below. The Queen and the Princess of Wales, both clad in black, also sang the national anthem together on the balcony.
They were joined in a stirring rendition of the anthem as all those at the Cenotaph joined in at the conclusion of the Remembrance service.
In the meantime, the Duchess of Edinburgh was moved to tears by today’s poignant scenes. Sophie stood next to the recently widowed Duke of Kent on a balcony overlooking the Cenotaph.
As her husband Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh saluted and laid his wreath at the memorial, an emotional Sophie was seen wiping away a tear.
King Charles led the nation in a two-minute silence to honour those who lost their lives in conflict. Charles, along with his son Prince William, laid a wreath at the Cenotaph.
Charles took centre stage and laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War(Image: CHRIS JACKSON, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The King appeared to have tears in his eyes as the nation fell silent to remember those we have lost. A volley from a gun fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from nearby Horse Guards Parade, signalled the start of the two minutes of silent reflection, with another marking its end.
Royal enthusiasts watching the moving ceremony at home will have noticed that one major royal, who is usually a constant presence at the service laying a wreath, was absent.
Princess Anne did not join her brothers, the King and Prince Edward, at the ceremony. Her absence has been attributed to her current tour of Australia and Singapore with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Earlier today, she attended a Remembrance Service and laid a wreath at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney, marking her visit to celebrate the Centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, in her capacity as Colonel-in-Chief.
The announcement of Anne’s trip Down Under was made several weeks ago. Buckingham Palace stated: “The Princess will undertake a series of military engagements in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane during the four-day visit to commemorate the centenary. As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Her Royal Highness will lay a wreath at the Sydney War Cemetery.”