Why Kate, Camilla, and Sophie Wore Three Remembrance Poppies — But Anne and Others Didn't?
There was one stark difference between the outfits of the royal family on Remembrance Sunday.
The royal family marked Remembrance Day on Sunday by making their traditional appearance at the Cenotaph in London. While King Charles, Prince William, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne led the ceremony, Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, and Duchess Sophie watched on from the balconies of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) building. However, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed a key difference in both parties' outfits.
The royals wear red poppies during Remembrance Month to pay their respects to the soldiers who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. The flower that grows in destroyed soil symbolizes resilience and sacrifice. While the royal family wore red poppies on their outfits on Sunday, netizens pointed out that Camilla, Kate, and Sophie wore three poppies, as opposed to Charles, William, Edward, and Anne, who wore only one. The Palace has never confirmed the meaning behind pinning three poppies, but royal experts and historians believe there could be three possible reasons.
The most widely accepted theory is that each red poppy represents a primary branch of the UK Armed Forces: the British Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force. Camilla and Kate hold several honorary military roles across all three services. The speculation is further reinforced by the fact that the late Queen Elizabeth famously wore five poppies to represent Civil Defence and women’s war services alongside the three military branches.
Some also suggest that the royals wear more poppies to ensure the symbol of resilience and sacrifice receives better visibility on broadcasts and other media releases. Another theory suggests that royals pin several poppies in honor of family members who have fought and been martyred in wars. The Princess of Wales’ three great-grandfathers lost their lives during the First World War. During a 2018 visit to the Imperial War Museum, she viewed letters from her ancestors.
Kate paying tribute to her late family members won’t come as a surprise. In 2019, she chose to wear a special Codebreakers Brooch to Remembrance Day in honor of her grandmother, Valerie Glassborow, her twin sister, Mary, and her great-aunt, who all served as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Last year, the Princess had worn an RAF badge in honor of her grandfather, Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during WWII.
This year, the Princess of Wales opted for a black coat dress by Catherine Walker and a big hat by Jane Taylor. She completed the look with Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl-drop earrings, and her HMS Glasgow brooch that signified her role as the Lady Sponsor of the Royal Navy warship and paid a tribute to Scottish heritage, maritime tradition, and military patronage.
