King Charles III is taking part in his first “Remembrance Sunday” as a monarch on Sunday and will pay tribute to the victims of wars while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the Ukrainians’ fight once morest Russia.
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The 73-year-old king had already replaced his mother Elizabeth II – who died in September at the age of 96 – during these ceremonies.
The Queen, who served as a mechanic during World War II, had only missed the ceremony seven times in her 70-year reign and had watched the parade from Foreign Office buildings since 2017. Her son replaced her last year because she suffered from back problems.
Charles III, who served in the Navy in the 1970s, then laid a wreath in his name at the foot of the Cenotaph, the memorial to war victims.
Now king and commander of the armed forces, he will lay on Sunday in his own name the wreath of red poppies, emblems of Remembrance Day. According to Buckingham Palace, a second bouquet will be left in the name of Queen Consort Camilla.mMRr
The latter, 75, will attend the ceremony from the balcony of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in office for three weeks, is also taking part in his first “Remembrance Sunday”.
“This year more than ever, we are reminded of the immense gratitude we owe to those who lost their lives to protect their country,” he said in a statement, adding that the minutes of silence observed would also make tribute “to the brave soldiers of Ukraine who continue their fight for freedom”.
Two minutes of silence will be observed at 11 a.m. and Big Ben will strike, marking at the same time the return of the emblematic London clock following five years of renovation.
Some 10,000 veterans will march past the King and other members of the Royal Family, including heir to the throne William and his wife Kate.
“Remembrance Sunday” ends each year a week of homage to the victims of wars since the First World War. Members of the royal family have laid wreaths and crosses in recent days and attended the annual concert of a veterans association on Saturday.
