King Charles Honors Fallen Soldiers, Princess Kate Returns

AFP/APP

London: King Charles III led the United Kingdom in a solemn two-minute silence on Sunday to honor the nation’s war dead, joined by his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, marking her return to royal duties following cancer treatment.

In a moving remembrance service at the Cenotaph memorial in central London, the king, who was also diagnosed with cancer this year, joined dignitaries in laying wreaths as the nation observed silence at 11:00 am (1100 GMT).

Crowds filled the Whitehall area, alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer, military veterans, and political leaders, all paying their respects to those who lost their lives in the world wars and other conflicts.

Princess Catherine, wife of Prince William, heir to the throne, watched from a nearby balcony as she stepped up her public role since concluding chemotherapy in September. Her attendance followed her appearance with William at the Festival of Remembrance concert on Saturday night, her first major royal engagement since her treatment.

This weekend marked the first time this year that the princess participated in two consecutive days of public duties.

In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with cancer, prompting his temporary withdrawal from public duties.

In March, Princess Kate, 42, also revealed her cancer diagnosis and her subsequent chemotherapy treatment.

Both royals have since resumed limited public roles, with Charles pausing his treatment for recent engagements in Australia and Samoa.

Prince William described the past year as “brutal” and likely “the hardest” of his life, telling reporters on Thursday after his Earthshot Prize visit to South Africa, “Honestly, it’s been dreadful. Trying to keep everything on track has been really difficult.”

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla missed the remembrance events due to a chest infection.

Remembrance services were held across the United Kingdom. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, the leader of the pro-Irish unity party Sinn Fein, made history as the first senior member of her party to attend a Remembrance Sunday service in the province.

O’Neill’s attendance demonstrated her commitment to “moving beyond old limits and building bridges” in Northern Ireland, a gesture symbolizing reconciliation and peace.

Sinn Fein was previously the political wing of the IRA during the Troubles, a period marked by conflict over British rule in Northern Ireland.