King Charles III appeared visibly moved as more than 5,000 people sang a heartfelt rendition of God Save the King during the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.
A Night of Royal Debuts and Emotional Tributes
The monarch, 76, watched with evident emotion as the crowd marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War with the national anthem. The King was then treated to three cheers from the Armed Forces, appearing grateful as he waved to the audience containing veterans who had helped plan D Day, been prisoners of war, and survived direct hits at sea.
The event proved particularly memorable for Prince George, who made his debut at the Festival of Remembrance alongside his mother, the Princess of Wales. The future King, aged 12, put on a brave face as he walked into the royal box with Catherine by his side, looking dapper in a black suit complete with a poppy pin and striped tie.
Catherine made a stunning appearance in a black dress with a wide white collar from Alessandra Rich, accessorised with earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her outfit featured an HMS Glasgow brooch and a handmade poppy created from silk, glass and other natural materials by Izzy Ager of Lock and Co.
Royal Unity Amidst Family Challenges
Saturday's appearance marked the first time the Princess of Wales has been seen in public since Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his titles and told to leave Royal Lodge. Although Prince William was notably absent due to his return from the Earthshot Prize Awards and COP30 summit in Brazil, the royal family presented a united front.
King Charles arrived with Queen Camilla, who wore a sequined dress paired with Van Cleef diamond earrings. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among those supporting the King, with Sophie making a statement with her Lulu Guinness 'Sophie' fan clutch and poppy badge.
The monarch, who was announced as patron of the Royal British Legion last year, will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph in central London on Sunday.
Star-Studded Performances and Moving Moments
This year's festival, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, featured music from Sir Rod Stewart and Sam Ryder. The King was filmed enjoying Sir Rod's opening song Sentimental Journey, with his right-hand man and equerry Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson also beaming throughout the performance.
The festival, hosted by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, also saw performances by Keala Settle, the Central Band of the RAF, and the RAF Squadronaires. The folk band The Wellermen joined the Band of HM Royal Marines for a rousing rendition of The Nights by Avicii.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were among the distinguished guests in attendance. The event featured emotional videos of veterans speaking about their experiences and paying tribute to lost comrades, which Prince George watched intently from the royal box.
The festival also marked the 25th anniversary of the UK government lifting the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel serving openly in the armed forces.
Following the two-minute silence as poppy petals fell from above, Catherine and George were pictured leaving the Remembrance Festival shortly after 9pm, followed closely by King Charles and Queen Camilla who departed in a blacked-out car.
This event marks the beginning of a busy remembrance weekend for the Princess of Wales, who will lead attendees in observing a two-minute silence at The National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire on Sunday, taking over from the Duchess of Edinburgh who attended the service last year.
