Duchess Kate & Prince William Speak with Army Members and Families for Remembrance Week
As the world continues to pay tribute to the sacrifices of its military communities and army veterans, Duchess Kate and Prince William have taken time out to focus on the work of armed personnel working overseas and the families of those who have lost loved ones to war.
On November 9, the Duchess of Cambridge marked Remembrance week by speaking over a video call from her Kensington Palace home to Armed Forces families who have lost loved ones. Dressed in a white silk blouse with a commemorative poppy pinned to her collar, Kate listened as family members spoke about how they are paying tribute to those who have passed and the impact of Remembrance in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
Sat in front of her MacBook in a formal reception space at the Cambridges’ Apartment 1A home (spot the photo of husband William in the background), the duchess heard from Chantelle Wyn, Serena Alexander, and Sonia Fleming about the support they have each received from the military community and the Royal British Legion—a charity that helps anyone who has served with the British Armed Forces, their families, and even with financial aid for funeral costs and counseling.
“It’s been a real honor to speak to all of you, and I think I speak for the whole nation when I say just how proud you should be of your loved ones, and for the sacrifice and the bravery that they’ve shown,” she told the group. “I’ll certainly be thinking of you this difficult week and will be for many years to come.”
The Duke of Cambridge’s call took place last week, November 5, when he caught up with military personnel who have been deployed overseas. “I hope that you know that we are still thinking about all of you and the important job you’re all doing, and that everyone is very grateful,” he told the group, which included representatives from the British Royal Navy, the British Army, and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). “I hope that over Remembrance Sunday we can remind people just how committed and determined, and how brilliant all the people we have in the Forces are around the world.”
William, who was once known to his RAF comrades as Flight Lieutenant Wales when he was stationed at a search-and-rescue base in Wales, heard from three servicemen and women about the challenges of being stationed abroad and the work that is being done to support the physical and mental health of those on deployment. There are currently around 11,000 members of the British RAF on operations around the world, from the United States to the Persian Gulf.
On Sunday, the Cambridges joined other senior members of the royal family for a Remembrance service at London’s Cenotaph war memorial. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the scaled-back ceremony was closed to the general public but saw Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, and others lay commemorative wreaths in Whitehall. Prince Harry, who served in the military for 10 years and completed two tours of Afghanistan, requested a wreath to be placed in his name but was told by Buckingham Palace aides that it would not be possible, as he is no longer a working member of the royal family.
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