Why the British Royal family wear red poppy pins in November
Each November, the British royal family, including Kate Middleton, Prince William, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, King Charles, and Queen Camilla, traditionally shows unity by wearing a meaningful symbol — the red poppy pin.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex continued this practice even after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. At the upcoming Remembrance Sunday on November 10, all royal family members, including the Princess of Wales, are expected to display these pins on their attire.
The poppy has served as a symbol of military remembrance since 1921. This red flower, particularly significant in the UK and Commonwealth nations for Remembrance Day on November 11, draws its symbolic roots from “In Flanders Fields”, John McCrae’s World War I poem, the People reported.
The royal family takes part in several military remembrance events throughout November, with Remembrance Sunday standing as the most significant. Held on the second Sunday of November each year, this day honours the members of the Armed Forces from the UK and Commonwealth who lost their lives in conflicts.
The royal family gathers at The Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall, London, for a formal ceremony that includes a two-minute silence, wreath-laying, and a march with veterans.
They gather at The Cenotaph war memorial in London’s Whitehall for a formal ceremony featuring a two-minute silence, wreath-laying, and a ceremonial march with veterans in attendance.
Princess Kate is also anticipated to attend this weekend’s Remembrance Sunday service.
‘It’s for remembering all the soldiers’
During a November 9 visit to Colham Manor Children’s Centre in 2022, the Princess of Wales experienced an interaction with a young boy called Akeem. She was there representing the Maternal Mental Health Alliance as their patron.
“My name is Catherine,” she told Akeem, kneeling to speak face-to-face with the boy, then 3, after he asked her what her name was. “Okay,” Akeem replied simply, prompting laughter from the assembled crowd.
When Akeem showed interest in Kate’s poppy pin, she decided to give it to him. “Do you know what this is for?” she asked whilst removing the pin from her coat. “It’s for remembering all the soldiers who died in the war. There you go — that’s for you.”
Despite their relocation to the United States in 2020, both Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, continue to wear this significant emblem.
In the previous year, both Meghan and Harry displayed their poppy pins during an unannounced appearance in San Diego supporting Navy SEALs.
Currently, the Princess of Wales’ participation remains uncertain, as does Queen Camilla’s attendance whilst she recovers from a chest infection.
The Buckingham palace issued a statement indicating the Queen’s intention to attend the royal family’s Remembrance events this weekend, following her absence from a Remembrance event on November 7 at Westminster Abbey.
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