Today the Princess of Wales traveled to Staffordshire to attend the annual Armistice Day service at the National Memorial Arboretum, wearing ruby and diamond earrings and a special badge.
Princess Catherine was the royal representative at this year’s Service of Remembrance on Armistice Day at the memorial in Alrewas. The arboretum is a site of national remembrance in Britain. Opened in 2001, it includes hundreds of memorials to the men and women who have served their country in the military, civilian organizations, and volunteer forces.
At the center of the arboretum is the Armed Forces Memorial, which is dedicated to the memory of the thousands of men and women killed on duty since World War II. The memorial is designed so that, every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the rays of the sun shine directly on the center of the structure and illuminate bronze wreath in the middle of the memorial. Catherine laid a wreath with a Prince of Wales feathers design on the bronze wreath during today’s service.
The Princess also read a poem, “A Sonnet For Us All,” during the service. The sonnet, written by Arji Manuelpillai, the arboretum’s poet-in-residence, was specially commissioned by Catherine herself for the occasion.
When you speak of our country, do not speak of war.
Speak of the nurse who held a hand like her own father’s,
A lieutenant who embraced a soldier like his own brother.
Remember, sometimes those who go into burning buildings
burn brighter than the fire inside. Those who rise from burning
buildings carry scars we cannot see. If you speak of this country
speak of the widow who never stopped waiting, the sailor
who kissed a photo till it turned to ash in his hands,
or the pilots who meet in the pub to talk of anything but war.
You see love is a compass, love is a bugle mourning.
Love is sacrificing tomorrow so that a stranger can live today.
So when you speak of this country, do not think of it as a place.
Think of it as a feeling, the feeling of being loved, the duty to pass
that love to whoever needs it.
Kensington Palace has shared that Manuelpillai’s poem features “themes which are particularly close to The Princess’ heart.” On social media, the palace also shared a video of Manuelpillai reading his poem.
For the service and a reception afterward, during which Catherine met with veterans, she wore a black coat with military-inspired details with black accessories and a pair of paper poppies.
Kate linked the bright red poppies to her jewelry, wearing her diamond and ruby cluster drop earrings, which we’ve seen her wear occasionally for military-related events.
Memorably, Catherine wore the ruby and diamond earrings in London in May for a military procession at Buckingham Palace commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
On that occasion, which also included a tea party reception for veterans inside the palace, she also wore a necklace with a matching diamond and ruby cluster pendant.
The Princess secured her poppies on Armistice Day with a brooch shaped like the regimental badge of the Irish Guards. The King is the Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, and he named Catherine to be their regimental colonel in December 2022.
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