The Duchess of Cambridge Joins a Host of Royals for the Festival of Remembrance

The Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen and a host of other royals for the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Duchess was greeted upon arrival.

In only one of a handful of appearances since his retirement, Prince Philip was by Her Majesty's side tonight. Philip's presence is a testament to the importance the Royal family places on honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The Duchess was seated beside Prince Philip and Prince Andrew.

Other members of the Royal family present included the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy. William and Harry were not in attendance this evening - both attended separate rugby matches today.

Of course, today is Armistice Day, which adds another layer of significance and solemnity to the proceedings. Ninety-nine years ago today armistice was signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

The Royal British Legion's annual festival commemorates those who have lost their lives in service of their country. It takes place on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, with two performances on the day - a matinée open to members of the public and an evening event for members of the Legion, their families, officials and royals. The event has been held at the Royal Albert Hall every year since 1927. Her Majesty has been patron of the Royal British Legion since 1952, only missing two festivals in the many years since.

This year's festival will mark the following anniversaries: the centenaries of women's service in the regular Armed Forces, the Battle of Passchendaele, the creation of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the birth of Dame Vera Lynn. And also the 75th anniversary of the Second Battle of El Alamein and the creation of the RAF Regiment.

The Royal Fanfare was played by State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.

In 1917, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) became the British Army’s first all-female unit. 100 women from HM's Armed Forces past and present took to the stage to celebrate the centenary.

Emeli Sande, Tom Odell, Melanie C, Alfie Boe and Lesley Garrett performed alongside the Queen’s Colour Squadron and the Band of HM Royal Marines.

The event was hosted by Royal Albert Hall president Jon Moynihan and Air Marshal David Walker, president of the Royal British Legion.

Performer Alfie Boe backstage. As mentioned earlier, the one and only Dame Vera Lynn was honoured. Widely known as "the Forces' Sweetheart", the English singer and actress's recordings were enormously popular during the Second World War. Alfie performed one of Vera's songs.

Below, Vera Lynn visits a munitions factory in 1941.

The audience stood to support and welcome bereaved families.

The hymn 'O God, Our Help In Ages Past' was sung.

The poppies fell silently on to the heads of those who are serving.

God Save the Queen brought the Festival of Remembrance to a close.

For this year's Poppy Appeal, the Royal British Legion is asking people to 'Rethink Remembrance' by recognising the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community, past and present. "By wearing a poppy, you aren’t just remembering the fallen: you’re supporting a new generation of veterans and Service personnel that need our support. We asked some members of our Armed Forces community what the poppy means to them. To us, the poppy is not only a symbol of Remembrance, but also of hope. While we will never forget the sacrifices of our past heroes, we will also wear the poppy for our Armed Forces community living on today."

To coincide with the appeal, lines of the renowned poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ appeared in iconic locations across the UK. The poem was written after poppies bloomed on the battlefields of the First World War, despite the death and destruction around them. It’s that life force growing in the most difficult of circumstances that connects the poppy with a message of hope. By re-creating John McCrae’s poem in seven locations the Legion aims to bring ‘In Flanders Fields’ into modern-day consciousness.

As always, incredible and emotional stories from veterans were shared. Hearing Tom's account 'I Remember My Friend' was incredibly moving, and so much so, I wanted to post it on the blog tonight. As many of you will know, when veterans return from conflict, it can be desperately difficult and painful to recount the horrors they endured and witnessed. At 99, it was very brave of Tom to recall his experiences in the war.

Tom's story:

'Tom Boardman became a prisoner of war when British forces surrendered to Japan in Singapore in 1942. Tom, now aged 99, volunteered for service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1939 and was detailed to go abroad in 1941. “We sailed from Liverpool in early March 1941 and did a few days travelling across the North Atlantic towards America,” says Tom.

“Then we struck due South and went across to Freetown, West Africa - the hottest place I'd ever been to. We didn't go ashore but after a few days there we went South to Cape Town where we had a weeks’ leave. I was with Les Day, my best friend at the time, and we shared our days out together.” After Cape Town they headed for their final destination of Singapore, via Bombay and Colombo.

“Of course in 1941 there was no war out in Singapore and we were very pleased to arrive there at the beginning of May, eight weeks after leaving Liverpool,” says Tom. It seemed heaven on earth because there was no rationing and there was as much food as you wanted. However, little did we know what was on the horizon.” In December 1941 Japan joined the war, with British Commander Lieutenant-General Percival surrendering in February 1942. We were taken prisoner of war and were taken up to Changi district,” explains Tom. The area was barb-wired off and we lived there from February to October. In October they started moving us from Singapore up into Thailand with a promise of better camps. The trip from Singapore up into Thailand was made in cattle trucks without any sanitation and one meal a day. It lasted four days and four nights and it was a horrendous trip.

Tom was one of thousands of Allied prisoners who built a rail link between Bangkok and Rangoon. “I spent 12 months building the railway in horrible conditions, with horrible food and the accommodation was horrible,” he explains. We used to get rice and a spoonful of sugar for breakfast at the crack of dawn then they would bring out rice in containers slung onto bamboo poles at lunch time. Then we would get back to work until we'd finish the task of the day - anything from building an embankment, to building a cutting, to building a bridge or series of bridges. As you finished a section you moved onto another section and started working to meet up with a camp further down or higher up the railway. If anyone misbehaved they had what they called a metre stick. It was a metre-length of bamboo which varied from 1-2 inches in diameter and if you misbehaved you got beatings with it - that was a daily occurrence and there was no respite from it.” Whilst in captivity there were various illnesses and diseases that afflicted the thousands of prisoners, such as Cholera, Dysentery, Malaria, Beriberi, leg ulcers and amputations.

The railway was completed in October 1943, after which Tom was put on building air strips. The last airstrip that was built was at Phetchaburi, and was finished at the end of July 1945. “The war finished as far as we were concerned about the 18 August because we were unaware that peace had been called and the Japanese had surrendered,” says Tom. Within days Dakota planes were flying into this airstrip we had built and flying us in groups to Rangoon where we were rehabilitated. I arrived back in England on 8 October 1945 a free man and very grateful for it. I arrived home in Leigh in the early hours to be reunited with my wife who I had married in 1940. Luckily I survived the hazards,” adds Tom, “It was a grim life and I consider myself very lucky to have got through it, and especially to have survived so long.”

On Remembrance Sunday, Tom always thinks of his friend Les, who never came home. “My life is full of remembrance of the war, and not a day passes without me thinking about it,” he says. Les Day is the one person I really think about. I was with him all through the war days in Singapore and into captivity. I moved into Changi concentration camp with him but unfortunately he didn’t survive. I think it’s not just a case of remembering in November. For me we should remember every day and every month, and that’s what I try and do.”

It is the Legion's biggest fundraising appeal of the year. If you would like to donate please click here for more information.

It is the third consecutive year the Duchess has attended the performance. Below we see her arriving in 2015 in a black Dolce & Gabbana dress, and in 2016 in a Temperley London coat.

The Duchess chose a beautiful new black velvet coat by Catherine Walker tonight. The piece is a bespoke version of the Caressa Jacket (with thanks to Laura).The Caressa is described as "The structured, nipped in silhouette with a gentle flick at the hem contrasts beautifully with the full skirt. Jet, glass and silver Swarovski buttons lend a further eye-catching dimension oin this black silk velvet jacket".

A closer look at the swarovski buttons.

Catherine Walker

Kate accessorised with Princess Diana's Collingwood Pearl earrings. The Duchess has worn them several times this year. Kate also wore a lovely large poppy, set against her black velvet coat, it was very much the focal point.

Kate carried her black Magid clutch.

It was another terrific performance, and as I type this closing paragraph it has just concluded on BBC One. The combination of stories from those in the forces, to touching performances, emotive musical selections and personal stories from bereaved families reminds us every year of the sacrifice so many have made. There were glimpses of the Queen looking delighted and taking in every moment of it.  The recording showed Kate on a number of occasions and she seemed very relaxed and at ease. We don't usually see her at events with the Queen and so many members of the Royal family without William. It was good to see her attending regardless, and taking her place as a senior member of the Royal family seated beside Prince Philip. A strong turn out by the Royal family during such commemoration events is important. If it is uploaded to YouTube, I will add it here.

We'll see you tomorrow morning for Remembrance Sunday events.