Under the watchful eye of British veterans and their families, the British Royal family, led by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, remembered Britain’s war dead during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Centopah in Whitehall. At exactly 11 AM, two minutes of silence were observed in memory of those who died for Queen (as well as King) and Country. Following the Queen and the Duke who placed a memorial wreath of poppies were Prince William and Prince Harry, who represented the Prince of Wales, who is currently on an official visit to Canada. Additional wreaths were presented by the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent as well as prominent British politicians.

The first Remembrance Day was dedicated by King George V on November 7, 1919 to remember the sacrifices of those who served and died in World War I, but now Remembrance Day pays tribute to members of all conflicts from World War I to the present day conflict in Afghanistan. This year’s Remembrance Day will remembered as the first ceremony without any surviving World War I veterans present, as within the last year Henry Allingham, Harry Patch and Bill Stone, passed away.

Armistice Day is officially observed in the United Kingdom on November 11th as major hostilities in WWI were ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, with the signing of the Armistice.

This year, as in years past, poppies are placed in the Field of Remembrance, which is located at Westminster Abbey to remember those killed by war. During World War I, poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Europe. Traditionally from November 1st until Armistice Day, Britons wear small red poppies sold by the Royal British Legion. The funds raised from the sale of poppies support injured servicemen and women and their families as well as the families of those killed during active service.

To view pictures of the British Royal family, please visit Remembrance Day Services: 2003-2009.

Zonk British Royals Armistice Day, Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Prince Harry, Prince Philip, Prince William, Remembrance Day

HM Queen Beatrix and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday commemorated the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Dutch city of Nijmegen from German occupation during World War II. The city was the first Dutch city to fall to German hands in 1940.

Click to see the image at Koninklijkhuis

The royal pair inspected the customary guard of honour, before laying wreaths at the Resistance Monument at Traianus Square. Speeches were made by both Dutch, British and American parties, including the Dutch Defence Minister, the Mayor of Nijmegen, former NATO chief Lord Carrington (who served in the liberation of Nijmegen) on behalf of the British Guards Armoured Division and Major Moffitt Burris for the 82nd Airborne Division (who also served in the liberation in 1944).

A parade of historical vehicles concluded the official ceremony, with HM and HRH then given the opportunity to speak with veterans at the Nijmegen Town Hall.

The Duke of Edinburgh was selected as the British representative at the event as he is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, a regiment which was instrumental in the liberation of Nijmegen, which began on September 17 when the Allied Forces landed in the south of the country.

According to royalblog.nl, there has been some criticism in Britain by the press over HRH the Prince of Wales’ non-attendance at the anniversary. Prince Charles is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, which also played a large part in the Battle of Arnhem and the liberation of Nijmegen. A large group of 100 paratroopers were dropped on the city on Saturday as part of the commemoration festivities, and some veterans are “disgusted” that the Prince was not in Holland to mark the anniversary.

Click here to view the thread for the anniversary.

JessRulz British Royals, Dutch Royals Anniversary, Duke of Edinburgh, Liberation, Military, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Philip, Queen Beatrix, World War II

View the image at The Georgian.ca

On 18 June 1959 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh began a 45-day tour of Canada in Gander, Newfoundland, that would see them visit every province and territory and open the St. Lawrence Seaway. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s visit, The Georgian newspaper interviewed people who were there during the Queen’s visit.

To read some some interesting anecdotes click here.

The Royal Couple was received by the Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and Governor General Vincent Massey and other dignitaries when they arrived in Gander. A pretty little girl handed HM a bouquet and everyone waited patiently until the little girl remembered to curtsy and pull at her skirt before returning to her parents.

On June 26, Queen Elizabeth and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower formally inaugurated the St. Lawrence Seaway, which links the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. They boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia at the lock at St. Lambert, Ontario. The Britannia pulled away from the dock and entered the lift lock to officially open the Seaway as she passed a gate made from timber from the lock of the old Lachine Canal. Read more…

Capricorn British Royals Canada, Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Official Visit, Prince Philip

Click on the image to view the photo at Daylife

 Happy birthday to HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 88 years old today!

Prince Philip was born HRH Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921. His entrance into the world was rather unusual for a royal prince: he was born on a kitchen table at the Mon-Repos Palace. Not long after his birth, his family fled from Greece to France after the king was forced to abdicate. His father, Prince Andrew, was accused of war crimes and later narrowly escaped conviction and execution.

Though he was born a Greek prince, Philip has always had connections to Britain. His mother was born HSH Princess Alice of Battenberg, daughter of the 1st Marquess of Milford Haven, at Windsor Castle with her great-grandmother Queen Victoria in attendance. Princess Alice’s brother, the 1st Earl of Mountbatten of Burma, was an officer in the British Royal Navy and one of Philip’s mentors. Philip also spent much of his childhood in the United Kingdom, attending school at Cheam, Gordonstoun, and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. After finishing at Dartmouth, he continued to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, serving in the Royal Navy for many years, including the duration of World War II.

In 1947, Philip married another of Queen Victoria’s descendents, HRH The Princess Elizabeth, daughter and heir of George VI. Philip had already become a British subject, renouncing his claims to the thrones of Greece and Denmark and his royal title in the process, and had taken on the Anglicized surname of Mountbatten. The evening before his wedding, Philip was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by his new father-in-law, and he received the style of His Royal Highness. Read more…

Ella Kay British Royals Birthday, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip

Click on the image to view the photo at Daylife

 HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh made a three-day visit to Northern Ireland last week.  The royal couple visited many locations during their tour, including the Lisneal College dental room in Londonderry, the Police Rehabilitation and Retaining Trust in Holywood, the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency in Bangor, and the McWilliam Gallery in Bainbridge.

The Queen met at Hillsborough Castle with President Mary McAleese of Ireland, spurring new questions about a potential state visit to Ireland sometime in the future.  While at Hillsborough Castle, she also greeted members of the Grand Slam winning Irish Rugby team.

Prince Philip had a scare during the visit when he stumbled and nearly fell while mounting some stairs; he recovered and is fine.

For more on The Queen and Prince Philip, please visit this thread.  For more on royal visits to Northern Ireland, please visit this thread.

Ella Kay British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Northern Ireland, Official Visit, Prince Philip

Click the image to view the photo at Daylife

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on May 5 as a part of the gardens’ 250th annivesary celebrations.

While at Kew, The Queen planted a Gingko tree, something both she and The Duke have done before.  The tree that Prince Philip planted in 1959 still stands, but The Queen’s tree was washed away in 1987.  The royal couple also viewed exhibits about the gardens and learned about planned future projects, including the establishment of a “seed bank” to help preserve species of trees from all over the world.

Kew Gardens was established in 1759 when Princess Augusta, the mother of King George III, planted a nine-acre garden adjacent to Kew Palace.  The garden has evolved over the ensuing two and a half centuries into the current 300-acre garden complex.

For more information on The Queen’s day at Kew, please visit this thread.

Ella Kay British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Prince Philip

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 HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited Portsmouth on April 30 to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s D-Day Museum.

One of the exhibits that the couple viewed at the museum was an embroidered wall hanging that charts the events of June 6, 1944.  The Queen was said to have paid special attention to the section of the embroidery that featured her father, King George VI, and Winston Churchill.

The Queen also visited the Guildhall in Portsmouth’s city center, where the newly-restored Pompey Chimes rang for the first time in six years.

The royal couple attended two receptions while in the city: one to honor members of the Portsmouth Normandy Veterans Association and members of the Women’s Land Army, and the other to honor military men and women who have recently returned from overseas operations.

For more on The Queen and Prince Philip, please visit this thread.

Ella Kay British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, World War II

Click on the photo to view the image at Daylife

 HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh had a private meeting on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace with American President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.  The four met first in front of cameras at the Palace before having tea privately.

As a gesture of goodwill, the couples exchanged gifts.  The Obamas received a signed photo of The Queen and The Duke in a silver frame, a standard gift from the royal couple to visiting leaders.  From the Americans, The Queen received an iPod loaded with pictures and video from her recent state visit to the United States and a rare signed copy of a Richard Rodgers songbook.

After the visit, The Queen hosted a reception for a number of foreign dignitaries and spouses, including President and Mrs. Obama, at Buckingham Palace to mark the beginning of the G20 Summit in London.  HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall also attended the event.

For more on The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, please visit this thread.

Ella Kay British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama, President Obama, Prince Philip

Click on the image to view a photo gallery at The Telegraph

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, to Buckingham Palace today for a state visit ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit in London.  The Queen and Prince Philip greeted their visitors in style with a pomp-filled parade at Horseguards near the Mall.

President Calderon’s state visit is the first by a Mexican head of state to Britain in almost 25 years; President Miguel de la Madrid’s visit in 1985 was the most recent.

During the official visit, President Calderon will also meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and will make an address to both Houses of Parliament.  A state banquet at Buckingham Palace will be held in his honor this evening.

As per tradition, the heads of state exchanged gifts to mark the visit.  The Queen and The Duke gave President Calderon a first edition of George Orwell’s 1984, as Orwell is one of his favorite authors.  The royal couple gave Señora Zavala a small engraved silver box.  From the President and his wife, The Queen received a Maque tray from the President’s home state of Michoacan, while Prince Philip received a wooden chest.

The President’s state visit will last for four days. For more details, see this thread.

Ella Kay British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Mexico, President Calderon, Prince Philip, State Visit

 Yesterday I had the pleasant task of helping at Gold Award Presentations in St. James’s Palace in London.

The Morning Presentation was attended by His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness presented over 350 young people with their Gold Awards and spoke to them about their wonderful achievement. The Duke of Edinburgh was assisted in presenting the Awards by television and sporting world personalities and other noteworthy individuals including the High Sheriff of West Sussex.

The 320 young people invited to the Afternoon Presentation had the honour of meeting His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex. Prince Edward chatted to all of the Gold Award recipients and to many of their parents and other specially invited guests. The Earl also had some assistance from celebrities including Mr. Bill Turnbull from BBC Breakfast.

I was assigned some of these special guests and took them on a tour of the State Apartments before the Presentation began. We toured The Throne Room, Entrée Room, Queen Anne Room, Banqueting Room and The Picture Gallery. We also visited The Guard Room from which The Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Simpson had watched as Garter King of Arms proclaimed him Edward VIII, King of Great Britain, Ireland, The British Dominions beyond the seas and Emperor of India at the start of his short reign. Read more…

RoyalProtocol British Royals Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award