King Charles
Premiere as sovereign: This is how Remembrance Sunday will run under his direction
King Charles laid a wreath at the cenotaph in central London on Remebrance Sunday in 2019 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
© Max Mumby/Indigo / Getty Images
Of course, with the change in the British throne comes changes. King Charles wants to put his own stamp on the monarchy. The first new impulses and changes resulting from the change of throne will be on Remembrance Sunday, as the palace has now confirmed.
Actually, he has already completed this premiere. Since 2017, King Charles, 73, has laid a wreath of 90 poppies at the Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers in London on behalf of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, †96. This year, however, on November 13, 2022, he will fulfill these symbolic tasks for the first time as monarch – and is counting on a few changes.
King Charles sets his own accents on Remembrance Sunday
As confirmed by Buckingham Palace, the king’s wreath will be quite different in design from his mother’s. Although it will traditionally be bedded on an arrangement of black leaves, the broad band draped on top is woven from his racing colors of violet, yellow and gold for the first time. Even the ribbons of King George V, †70, King George VI, †56, and the Queen were in their personal racing colors. As the “Telegraph” reported, the arrangement should contain fewer poppies, but be slightly larger. However, it is specifically intended to pay tribute to the late Queen and her father.
Queen Camilla honors her grandfather and Queen Mum
In another first, a wreath will be laid at the cenotaph in the name of Queen Camilla, 75, who will be observing the ceremony from the State Department balcony. Her mourning ring will be adorned with the racing colors inherited from her grandfather, while also paying homage to the wreath of former Queen Elizabeth, †101.
According to “Mirror”, both wreaths are to be accompanied by handwritten cards of the royal couple with their new monograms.
First wreath-laying ceremony for the new Prince of Wales
Prince William, 40, will also contribute a wreath for the first time, following in the footsteps of his father, the previous Prince of Wales, on this occasion as well. His arrangement, in keeping with the new title, is adorned with feathers and carries a “Welsh Red” colored ribbon.
These royals are expected
As is tradition, the ceremony will be attended by the spearheads of the royal family. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, 40, Prince Edward, 58, Countess Sophie von Wessex, 57, Princess Anne, 72, and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, 67, are once again prominent observers at the wreath-laying ceremony this year. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 78, his wife Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester, 76, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 87, and Princess Alexandra, 85, are also expected. After the ceremony, Prince Edward will salute the parade of veterans’ organizations on Horse Guards Parade.
Memorial Sunday was considered the most important date in Queen Elizabeth’s calendar. She rarely had to cancel her participation, as she did last year when she had health problems with her back.
Now it’s up to King Charles to continue the honored tradition with dignity – and to set his own standards.
Sources used: mirror.co.uk, telegraph.co.uk