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Duchess Kate is planning a special solo outing for Armistice Day.
The 43-year-old Princess of Wales attended a memorial service on behalf of the royal family at the Armed Forces Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum on Tuesday, November 11th.
It was Princess Kate’s first appearance at the annual event, which is normally attended by members of the British royal family each year. Usually a blood royal (a member of the family in line to the throne) rather than a spouse attends, but Kate is not the first royal consort to represent the king at the ceremony. In addition to blood royals attending alongside their spouses over the years, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son Prince Edward, also attended the event alone last year.
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The Duchess of Cambridge observed a two-minute silence with those in attendance at 11am local time, before laying a wreath in memory of those who died in the line of duty and all those who served in the armed forces.
A specially commissioned poem by the National Memorial Arboretum’s poet-in-residence, Alji Manuel Pillai, was read during the Armistice Day service. ‘A Sonnet For Us All’ reflects the importance of personal connections, experiences and bonds formed through military service, a theme close to Duchess Kate’s heart.
After the service, the Princess of Wales viewed the newly dedicated names on the Armed Forces Memorial and met the veterans in attendance. She also met with a group of secondary school students from military families whose parents are currently deployed and viewed a special exhibit currently on display at the arboretum called “Letters from the Front Lines — Words, War, Victory.”
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Members of the royal family are celebrating Armistice Day in a variety of ways on Tuesday. King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other members of their family, are hosting a Windsor Castle reception for Pacific World War II veterans and their families to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Meanwhile, Princess Anne is visiting Australia with her husband Sir Tim Lawrence, where they plan to commemorate the day.
Prince William also appeared in a video message at the British Legion’s memorial service.
The heir to the throne said in part on Tuesday: “Through my own military experience and through my work with units in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, I have seen first-hand the hard work, dedication and duty our Armed Forces perform to ensure we are protected.”
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“Gathering in remembrance is an important way to honor those who keep us safe,” he continued. “Today, as we continue to face numerous conflicts around the world, we honor those who came before us and those who currently serve. Their memories are important, their lives matter, and they remind us every day to be respectful, kind, brave, and thoughtful.”
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Last weekend, Princess Kate joined the royal family at two events commemorating the British royal family’s Remembrance Day. She attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday with Prince George, marking the 12-year-old royal’s first time attending the event. Prince William usually attends with his wife, but he was returning from a visit to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize ceremony.
And on Sunday, the royal couple gathered again for a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London. As King Charles, Prince William and Prince Edward laid flowers at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, Princess Kate, Queen Camilla and Princess Sophie watched from a nearby balcony.
