Prince George joined senior members of the Royal Family for his first appearance at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening, in a poignant event that paid tribute to war veterans while acknowledging historic discrimination against LGBTQ+ military personnel.
A Significant Royal Occasion
The 12-year-old future king stood alongside his mother Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla at London's Royal Albert Hall for the emotional ceremony held the evening before Sunday's National Service of Remembrance. The royals entered the auditorium to a trumpeters' fanfare and took their places in the royal box for the Royal British Legion event.
This appearance marks another step in Prince George's gradual introduction to his future public duties, having previously met veterans in May to learn about their service. During the ceremony, he sat beside Princess Kate, who wore a black dress with white collar by Alessandra Rich, along with an HMS Glasgow brooch and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Honouring Sacrifice and Addressing Past Injustices
This year's festival held particular significance as it commemorated two important anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the UK Government lifting the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual personnel serving openly in the armed forces.
The event featured emotional videos of veterans sharing stories about lost friends and comrades, while also reflecting on the historic discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ personnel. Veterans in attendance included those who had helped plan D-Day, former prisoners of war, and survivors of direct hits at sea.
The royal family showed their respect by standing and applauding as the Chelsea Pensioners - distinguished British Army veterans in their distinctive red uniforms - entered the auditorium and marched across the stage while an orchestra performed The Boys Of The Old Brigade.
Musical Tributes and Royal Recognition
The festival featured performances by several renowned artists including Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder and Keala Settle, alongside musical contributions from the Central Band of the RAF, the RAF Squadronaires and the Band of HM Royal Marines.
Hannah Waddingham, of Ted Lasso fame, hosted the event wearing a long purple dress and poppy. She performed We'll Meet Again and shared stories about the courage of her veteran grandfather.
Following the crowd's rendition of the national anthem, King Charles smiled and waved to audience members as he departed. The King, who became patron of the Royal British Legion last year, was scheduled to lead the two-minute silence at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday morning.
Notably absent was Prince William, who was returning from the Cop30 UN Climate Change summit in Belem, Brazil. The Festival of Remembrance serves as a powerful annual tradition honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging the complex history of military service in Britain.
