Duchess of Cornwall in emotional visit to Field of Remembrance - Camilla represents royals
CAMILLA, Duchess of Cornwall, represented the Royal Family during a poignant engagement outside Westminster Abbey.
Camilla attends the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
Camilla headed to central London today to officially open the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. The Duchess stood alone in front of a sea of crosses bearing names of loved ones who died in war as she paid tribute to the fallen.
During the socially-distanced event, the Duchess planted a small wooden cross in a field of red poppies shaped like a cross.
Stepping back from the Field, Camilla then bowed her head and stood in silence as the Last Post was played.
Only a small number of veterans were invited to attend the ceremony this year due to the restrictions in place to quash the spread of coronavirus.
Prince Charles's wife was at the poignant ceremony not only as patron of the Poppy Factory but also to represent the Crown at the first of a series of events taking place this week to mark Remembrance Week.
This year's appearance at the Field of Remembrance is also going to be particularly special for Camilla, as she recently became the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles.
The Duchess marked her new position by wearing a badge on the lapel of her black coat with the symbol of this regiment.
Prince Philip passed onto Camilla this rank in July, following a rare engagement taking place in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle.
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Following today's ceremony, Camilla toured the memorial plots for regimental associations.
She was escorted by the Poppy Factory's president, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis.
The Duchess has been patron of this organisation since 2013.
The Poppy Factory supports veterans suffering from mental or physical health conditions back into work.
The Field of Remembrance is organised by the Poppy Factory and has been held in the grounds of Westminster Abbey since November 1928 to commemorate those who have lost their lives in the Armed Forces.
Camilla was due to attend the ceremony marking the 91st year of the Field of Remembrance in November 2019 alongside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
However, she was ordered by her doctor to remain at home and miss the poignant event as she was suffering from a chest infection.
A Clarence House spokeswoman told Express.co.uk at the time: “The Duchess of Cornwall has been told by her doctor to cancel her engagements owing to a chest infection which has got progressively worse over the last few days.”
Members of the Royal Family will gather on Sunday at the Cenotaph to attend the National Service of Remembrance.
This year, the sombre ceremony will be closed to the public due to the ongoing pandemic.
Falling a few days after the beginning of the second national lockdown in England, this service will likely see the Queen overlooking from one of the balconies at Whitehall.
As it has happened for the past three years, Prince Charles is expected to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph and lead the country in a two-minute silence.
The second lockdown will begin at 00.01 on November 5 and will continue for four weeks until 00.01 on December 2.
After that date, the country will be separated once again into three tiers, depending on the level of infections in each area.