William, Kate and Harry View 'Sea of Red' at the Tower of London
This morning, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited the Tower of London for the official unveiling of 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red', an installation of poppies in the Tower's moat.
The trio are continuing to commemorate WW1 following their visit to Belgium yesterday - the actual centenary - which saw thousands of people at home and abroad pay respects to those who gave their lives for freedom. It was a solemn day of reflection which saw the royals attend services and receptions to mark the day.
Tower of London Facebook Page
They chatted with the designers, artists and others involved with the project.
Kate looks at the installation whilst holding a ceramic poppy.
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The royals also spoke with members of the charities who will benefit from the fundraising project. It is anticipated the poppies will raise millions.
Kate guiding her husband along.
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To mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War the Tower of London's moat has been transformed into a red sea. Beautifully designed by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper, it will feature 888,246 ceramic poppies upon completion in November, each representing a British or Colonial military fatality during the war. Each one was hand made in Derby.
British Consulate Twitter Feed
The first poppy was planted by a Yeoman Warder of the Tower of London and over the next 3 months, 8,000 volunteers from across the country continued to plant poppies.
Historic Royal Palaces
The poppies encircle the Tower, creating not only a spectacular display, but also an inspiring setting for learning activities, as well as providing a location for personal reflection.
British Consulate Twitter Feed
Each ceramic poppy will be available to buy for £25. 10% from each poppy, plus all net proceeds, will be shared equally amongst six service charities; Confederation of Service Charities, Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, Royal British Legion and SSAFA (formerly the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association). If you wish to purchase a poppy you can do so here. They will be distributed once the exhibition closed in November.
The Tower has a fascinating history in so many ways, including the war. It hosted several events as a site where troops swore their Oath of Allegiance as well as a place of execution. On 6 November 1914 Carl Hans Lody became the first spy to be executed by a firing squad of Grenadier Guards at the Tower.
Below we see men volunteering at the beginning of World War One.
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Their Royal Highnesses each planted a poppy.
One of many stunning images from today. The installation is very evocative and superbly done.
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Kate shed a tear as she looked through the vast rows of poppies.
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William and Kate aren't the only VIP guests viewing the installation. Below we see proud mum Katie Ellwood with her little knight.
Katie Ellwood Twitter Feed
A beautiful photo of Kate.
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The Duchess wore her L.K. Bennett 'Detroit' Dress today.
Many will remember Kate debuted the frock in February when she visited Northolt High School for an Art Room opening. It proved an incredibly popular piece with fashion fans and critics alike. L.K. Bennett have restocked it and as of publishing this post it's available in several sizes on the L.K. Bennett website for £225. It's also available in limited sizes on the US website.
The striking colour is described as 'snorkel blue'. It's a beautiful colour and one which works very well for the Duchess. Some felt the vibrant shade clashed with the poppies and a neutral colour might have worked better in terms of photos. What do you think?
L.K. Bennett
More from the product description:
'For instant poise and confidence, slip into Detroit. This chic sheath dress is crafted from elegant crepe and hugs the figure just so, helped greatly by its exactly placed panels and cinched waist. While it flatters curves, Detroit provides stylish coverage with mid-length sleeves and a clavicle-skimming neckline.'
The Detroit is also available in light cream and violet. The cream version is available at Zalando in limited sizes with free shipping.
The Duchess debuted a new necklace today. The eagle-eyed Anna believes it is the Empress White Gold and Diamond Pendant by Mappin and Webb. The sparkling piece is set in 18 carat white gold. It retails for £1,850.
The Georgia Pumps feature a round toe and a chunky heel. The mid-height heel makes them very wearable especially for an engagement which involves walking through grass. They're available in black and blush for £395 on the Jimmy Choo website.
Russell and Bromley
There's videos available
at YouTube and ITN Source (there's a very funny moment when a shocked William enquires about the price of the poppies).
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We have one other segment to share today involving a topic readers have enquired about. Last night PopSugar published photos of Kate walking George through Kensington Gardens. The Duchess was casually dressed in a green vest she's had for years, jeans and her Mint Velvet plimsolls. Shortly afterwards PopSugar removed the pictures. Whether this was an issue with the photographer or perhaps even the Palace we don't know. If you wish to view them they're widely available on Tumblr sites.
#453206700 / gettyimages.com
We have one other segment to share today involving a topic readers have enquired about. Last night PopSugar published photos of Kate walking George through Kensington Gardens. The Duchess was casually dressed in a green vest she's had for years, jeans and her Mint Velvet plimsolls. Shortly afterwards PopSugar removed the pictures. Whether this was an issue with the photographer or perhaps even the Palace we don't know. If you wish to view them they're widely available on Tumblr sites.
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