Prince George among royals paying tribute to LGBT veterans for Remembrance Day

Prince George joined senior royals to pay tribute to war veterans at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time last night.

The 12-year-old stood alongside his mother Princesss Kate, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla, to recognise the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in conflict, in a Festival of Remembrance which also reflected on historic discrimination against LGBTQ+ personnel serving in the armed forces.

Held the evening before today’s Remembrance Day church service, the Festival of Remembrance included emotional videos of veterans speaking about their lost friends and comrades.

The four senior royals entered the auditorium to a trumpeters’ fanfare, and sat in the royal box at the event, part of the Ryal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.

Prince George, who met veterans in May this year to ask questions about their service, in an event seen as preparing him for his future public duties as king, sat next to Princess Kate.

She wore a black dress with a white collar by Alessandra Rich, an HMS Glasgow brooch and earrings belonging to the late Queen, and was seen chatting and pointing things out to her eldest son during the event.

The royal family themselves stood and clapped as the Chelsea Pensioners in red uniforms entered the auditorium and marched across the stage while an orchestra gave a rendition of the Boys Of The Old Brigade.

Chelsea pensioners are distinguised veterans of the British Army, who now live at a special retirement community at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, where they continue to serve at ceremonial occasions such as this.

Veterans attending included those who had helped to plan D Day, some who had been prisoners of war and had survived direct hits at sea.

What is the festival commemorating?

This year, the festival is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

It is also marking the 25th anniversary of the UK Government lifting the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual personnel serving openly in the armed forces, and will reflect on past discriminations.

The event last night included performances by Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder and Keala Settle as well as music performed by the Central Band of the RAF, the RAF Squadronaires and the Band of HM Royal Marines.

It was hosted by Hannah Waddingham of Ted Lasso fame, who wore a long purple dress and a poppy, performing We’ll Meet Again and telling the audience of the courage of her granddad, who is a veteran.

Waves from the King

After the crowd sang a rendition of the national anthem, the King smiled and waved to the audience as he left the royal box.

He was announced as a patron of the Royal British Legion last year and will lead a two-minute silence at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London at 11am today.

Prince William did not attend the event last night, as he was travelling back from the Cop30 UN Climate Change summit in Belem, Brazil.

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