The Royal Family Gathers for Festival Of Remembrance

The Royal family gathered at the Royal Albert Hall tonight for the annual Festival of Remembrance.

During Remembrance Week, Her Majesty and members of the Royal family, lead the nation in commemorating and honouring the men and women who have sacrificed themselves in service to our country. The period in November marks one of the rare occasions when see the family together in large numbers.

I often hear readers from outside the UK comment on how the UK pays tribute to our fallen heroes. I believe it is not only an honour to do so, but vital for future generations to remember those who gave their today for our tomorrow.

The royals were greeted by Mr Ian McCulloch, President of the Royal Albert Hall, and Lieutenant General James Bashall, President of the Royal British Legion.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving.

Each year the Festival of Remembrance focuses on specific themes. This year, it marks the 75th anniversaries of the great battles of 1944 - Monte Cassino, Kohima and Imphal, D-Day -  and the collaboration and friendship of the British, Commonwealth and Allied armies who fought them. It also celebrates the role of GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters responsible for signals intelligence) and the role of those in the secret service whose efforts are not publicly known.

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.

Other royals in attendance included the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, 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, and the Duke of Kent. Camilla had been feeling very poorly during the week with a severe chest infection which forced her to miss several engagements, so it's good to see she's on the mend and felt well enough to attend tonight.

Ahead of the arrival of the royals, the hanging of the hammercloth takes place. Archivist Suzanne Keyte said: "There are many things that an archivist expects to find as part of their job, but one of the most unusual and rather lovely jobs at the Royal Albert Hall is caring for the hammercloth and ensuring that it is hung from the balcony in the Royal Box whenever the reigning monarch visits the Hall. The hammercloth is a beautiful and very heavy velvet curtain bearing the Royal Coat of Arms and the initials of the reigning monarch of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. The origin of the word ‘hammercloth’ is rather vague but was usually meant to mean the heavily embroidered cloth that hung over a coachman’s seat on horse drawn coaches, often embroidered with a coat of arms."

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.

Presented by Huw Edwards, performers included James Blunt and Leona Lewis singing alongside the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Band of HM Royal Marines.

Actor and pianist Jeff Goldblum takes to the stage with ballroom dancers.

Tonight's event also paid tribute to the company of RFA Mounts Bay who were instrumental in delivering supplies and aid to the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian this year.

The Torch of Remembrance was carried by 3rd Officer Sarah Stevens.

The citation was read by Captain Rob Anders: "We honour the Commonwealth nations and our allies who joined Britain in defending its freedoms, values and way of life."

The Duke and Duchess watching the performance.

The Chelsea Pensioners choir performed 'The Old Brigade'.

Actor Daniel Mays read the poem 'The Red Poppies on Monte Cassino" as newsreel of the battle played. It is one of the best known Polish military songs of WWII.

D-Day veteran Eddie Gains talked about landing in Normandy: "When you think about all the lives lost, it's very important to remember, I'm lucky to have survived."

The Duchess was elegant in a navy dress which falls below the knee with a fitted velvet black belt. As it's a Remembrance event, the designer of the garment is not known. It's likely a bespoke piece, possibly by one of Kate's most trusted brands such as Alexander McQueen or Jenny Packham.

Kate debuted a new sparkly headband by ZARA (with thanks to Shorty KC). The £22 padded headband features tonal appliqué.

The Duchess accessorised with the Queen's pearl on diamond earrings. She's worn them on multiple occasions.

Kate wore her black velvet Jimmy Choo Romy 100 pumps. She debuted them for last year's Festival of Remembrance.

It appears Kate's clutch is a McQueen piece.

Kate wore three poppies on a brooch.

Last year, Kate visited the Imperial War Museum to learn more about the three brothers of her great-grandmother, all of whom fought and died in the First World War. It's likely the three poppies are in memory of Francis, Maurice and Lionel Lupton who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The Festival of Remembrance will be televised on BBC One at 9 pm. We'll see William and Kate and many others royals for Remembrance Sunday tomorrow morning.

The Cambridges Attend National Emergencies Trust Launch

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepped out this morning for the launch of the National Emergencies Trust at St Martin-in-the-fields, London. 

The engagement was initially announced as a solo appearance for William. On Tuesday, Kensington Palace confirmed Kate would be joining her husband. Following their tour of Pakistan, the Cambridges spent half-term break at their country home Anmer Hall. During their time there, Kate was spotted at a nearby Sainsburys for a spot of Halloween shopping with George and Charlotte.

The scale of several dreadful tragedies in the UK in 2017 including the Grenfell fire and terrorist attacks in Manchester and London led the Charity Commission to convene a number of organisations, charitable bodies and leading figures on the ground to establish a means of responding to national emergencies as quickly and effectively as possible. The intensity of 2017 led to the stark realisation proper measures were not in place to co-ordinate the public response to domestic emergencies. The answer was to come together and create the National Emergencies Trust. It will operate independently of government.

The trust will work collaboratively with charities and other bodies to direct public donations to NET appeals, and to distribute funds fairly and efficiently at the time of a national emergency. The concept of a collaborative approach to public emergency response has been proven by the Disasters Emergency Committee, which has been responding to overseas disasters for more than 50 years, and will be applied by the NET to domestic emergencies.

The Telegraph reports:

'Last month, it was revealed that 16 fraudsters who posed as people affected by the inferno that killed 72 people falsely claimed a total of £775,000 from the Grenfell victims' fund, with police only recovering £24,000.

The trust said that multiple charitable appeals following a disaster could leave the public feeling overwhelmed.

General Lord Dannatt, the chairman of the new trust and a former Chief of the General Staff, said of the response in 2017: "The general public were very generous and most of the money that was raised went to the right causes and the right people, but not everything went as it should have done.

"The Charity Commission challenged charities in the voluntary and community sector to come up with a more efficient and collaborative way of working together in response to any future tragedy."

The Duke and Duchess met a group of people affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire and Westminster Bridge terror attacks. Shortly after the horrific fire, William joined the Queen to meet residents and later participated in a DIY SOS project to support those in the area. Those in the UK will know it's been a painful time for those who lost loved ones and their homes in the fire. Phase one findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry were shared just over a week ago. The report found "serious shortcomings" and "systematic failures" in response to the fire. While the findings praised the courage of the London Fire Brigade, it was highly critical of their response with a number of recommendations suggested moving forward. The report found the principal reason the fire spread was aluminium composite cladding filled with plastic used on the exterior of the building. It led to a barrage of media coverage and political commentary. As I watched it all unfold last week, I couldn't help but think of the families who are still coming to terms with the unimaginable horror they endured and how deeply impactful the inquiry is for them.

The Duke and Duchess met representatives from the emergency services, NGOs, and some of the NET’s charitable partners.

Kate was particularly taken by a dog trained to assist during emergencies.

During a speech Prince William said: "Catherine and I are very pleased to be here today at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust. The UK is one of the most generous countries in the world in helping those in need and giving to charity. We all know the important role that the Disasters Emergency Committee plays in channelling the British public’s extraordinary generosity to respond to disasters overseas. It is therefore only fitting that a new, national charity is able to fulfill the same function when tragedy strikes at home."

William's continued:

'Just now and on previous occasions, it has been humbling to speak to survivors of the London Bridge and Manchester attacks, the Cumbria floods, the Grenfell Tower fire and other disasters here in the UK.

Their stories are as heart-breaking as they are inspiring. Their resilience and strength are deeply humbling. In talking to survivors, I’ve always been inspired to hear about the help they were offered by people and organisations acting on their own initiative with immediate and heartfelt compassion. This empathy is both natural, and remarkable.

Whenever and wherever disaster strikes here in the UK, this country has a unique way of pulling together. From the people who donate their blood, to the children who empty their piggy banks, to the families that set aside a bedroom in their home. The way that local communities support those affected shows the very best of our values and human nature.

But in the wake of tragedy, managing and channelling the public’s desire to help can prove tricky. I saw this for myself on the ground in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. I therefore fully support what you are doing here today.

I’m impressed about how willing the charity sector has been to learn the lessons from previous responses, and to ensure that the quickest and most appropriate support is offered to those affected.

I commend the Charity Commission for initiating this work, and all the charities in the voluntary and community sector for coming together so successfully. Your cooperation is admirable. The result is an organisation that you helped to design, that draws on all your strengths, and is warmly welcomed. 

I am very pleased that the National Emergencies Trust now stands ready to provide a structured, organised response to help people right across the UK in the event of a domestic disaster.

Many thanks to the whole team behind the Trust for all their hard work ahead of the launch. We all dread the day when you are needed. But I know that, like everyone here, I am glad that you now exist.'

If you would like to donate to the National Emergencies Trust please click here.

A video from the engagement.

Afterwards, the Duchess undertook a private engagement as she visited the BBC Children's and Education Team ahead of Anti-Bullying Week. It is understood she met with the BBC's Director General, The Lord Hall of Birkenhead. Reporter Russell Myers noted something "very interesting" is in the pipeline and we'll hear more about it next year. I expect it's possibly a Royal Foundation initiative that may be tied to her early years and mental health work. Speaking of early years, we can expect to hear more about Kate's project in the coming weeks.

Does Kate's dress look familiar? The Duchess wore the Emilia Wickstead 'Kate' dress in navy.

Kate owns the piece in lavender and debuted it during an official visit to Germany. She brought it back last autumn for the Global Ministerial Health Summit.

It became so popular, the designer released it in three colours, aptly named 'Kate'. The £1,420 piece is described as "Emilia Wickstead's wool-crepe Kate dress is an elegantly versatile choice for the social season. It's tailored in the UK with a flattering boat neckline and long darts throughout the front and back of the bodice, then lined with black crepe to ensure a smooth fit." Kate added a belt by the designer to complete her look today.

Kate carried her limited edition ‘Blue Heart’ clutch in black croc. It is described as "a beautiful collaboration between Aspinal of London and Beulah using Beulah’s iconic blue heart print on the interior lining. The Blue Heart clutch is a grown up classic with a timelessly elegant silhouette that works effortlessly and includes Aspinal of London’s distinctive signature shield lock clasp. The intricate metal chain is in a gold finish and adds to the functionality allowing the clutch to be held in the hand or elegantly draped over the shoulder.

The Duchess debuted a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choo Romy 85 Patent Leather pumps. They are available in multiple colours for $850 at Net-A-Porter.

And accessorised with her sapphire and diamond earrings.

Coincidentally, a reader messaged me earlier this week to suggest the Women of the First World War brooch from the poppy collection as an ideal choice for Kate to wear this week. The Duchess obviously had the same thought and chose the special £30 piece today. It is still in stock at the Poppy Shop.

The Duchess has several engagements coming up including two events for Remembrance week.

9 November - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join members of the royal family for the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

10 November - Remembrance Sunday

15 November - The Duchess of Cambridge, Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, will visit the charity’s new hospice ‘The Nook’ on Friday 15th November to meet children and families being supported by EACH, tour the hospice, and unveil a plaque to officially open the building.

18 November - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Palladium Theatre, London, held in aid of the Royal Variety Charity.

I'll see you Saturday evening for the Festival of Remembrance. It begins at 7 pm. It's always a beautifully organised and moving night.

It's L.K. Bennett Gabrielle For Radio 1's Teen Heroes Reception

This morning, several images were released from a reception the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted on 1 October, at Kensington Palace, to celebrate Radio 1's teen heroes of 2019.

Now marking its tenth year, the awards celebrate the selfless, brave and exceptional achievements of young people. It is the biggest annual teen event in the pop music calendar.

Celebrities and stars in the music, sporting and online industries are also honoured.

William and Kate met with the finalists and joined well-known faces including performer Camila Cabello and BBC Radio 1 DJs Clara Amfo and Greg James.

Ms Cabello said: “I was so honoured to be invited to Kensington Palace to meet and celebrate this year’s Teen Hero finalists with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Hearing the incredible things these Teen Heroes have done is so inspirational! Their passion and dedication to help others is amazing and they really blew me away!”

More on the background of three of the finalists from BBC Radio 1:

'12 year-old Hazel lives with a rare genetic disorder called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) which limits the body’s ability to repair damage caused by UV light. After being diagnosed at age 3 Hazel was advised by doctors to stay indoors indefinitely, but she has since learnt how to manage the condition safely in her daily life with support from charities and specialist clinics. Hazel has raised awareness of XP by making a film and giving talks to schools in her local area, and has raised £2000 for the charity that supported her by climbing the 900m high Ben Lomond mountain earlier this year in her protective clothing.

Rachel, aged 17, campaigns for change and better futures for young people in the UK. She is a volunteer for her local youth council and a member of the UK Youth Parliament, and has won a Diana Award for her work towards tackling cyber bullying. Rachel is also chair of the UK Youth Select Committee, which this year has been focussed on knife crime.

14 year-old Scarlett is a young carer to her mother, older sister and grandmother. Both Scarlett and her mum have an incurable nerve condition called HNPP, which can make everyday activities like carrying shopping bags extremely painful. As well as helping her mum, Scarlett cares for her sister, who has type 1 diabetes, and her grandmother, who has depression. A typical day for Scarlett, who also has autism, includes house chores, gardening, walking her grandmother to church and entertaining the other church goers.

It is the fourth consecutive year William and Kate hosted finalists at Kensington Palace. In 2016, they welcomed young people and representatives from the awards. Kate, who wore a bespoke McQueen dress told, Joe and Toby, who were both active fundraisers for Cancer Research UK. "I don't know how all of you find the time to do the volunteering," she told them. "It's such a great thing... Keep it up." William added, "Massive congratulations, it's seriously impressive," before them the group of winners as "shining lights".

Last year, they met teenager Siena who shared her experience of meeting the couple with Hello!: "The Duchess was especially interested in addressing autism stereotypes and was saddened to hear about the severity of the disability-related bullying I have experienced. She congratulated me for being a Diana Award holder and for currently serving on the National Youth Board, a role that has given me a national platform through which to share my disability-based bullying experience. They were both incredibly warm, supportive and encouraging. Meeting them was an awesome experience! They have inspired me continue to make a positive difference in my community."

The Duchess selected L.K. Bennett's Gabrielle Abstract Midi dress in toffee and black for the occasion (with thanks to Kate Middleton Style).

The £395 piece is described as: "Inspired by 30s style with exaggerated shoulders and ruching through the front, the Gabrielle midi dress from L.K.Bennett offers a soft, smooth feel thanks to the stretch silk fabric, printed with a vintage archive pattern that gives it a statement aesthetic." It's available in several sizes at John Lewis.

The winners will be presented with their awards on Sunday, 24 November.

The Duchess in Ghost London Dress for Private Pakistan Engagement

Just when we thought coverage had wrapped up on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's tour, several images unexpectedly emerged.

You might recall after William and Kate carried out engagements in Islamabad, including a visit to Model School for girls and a visit to Margalla, they were scheduled to privately meet staff from the British High Commission.

The Palace didn't share more on it, however guests posted a few snaps on Instagram today. I imagine the reception was an opportunity to thank all those from the British High Commission, Ambassador Thomas Drew and his team for seamlessly organising the trip.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cambridge Family fan page (@kate_william_family.ir) on Oct 21, 2019 at 9:33am PDT

Kate's very pretty floral dress is the Ghost Avery style (with thanks to Emily for the ID). Ghost London is a very chic brand offering a range of stylish dresses and timeless occasion wear. I've been hoping to see Kate in their pieces for some time. The Georgette mix and match print is available and retails for £250.

I'm flying out the door, so this a brief one. Hope you're all having a great evening!