The Royal Family will put up a united front for a major event next week, but Princess Kate will be absent. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester next Tuesday, November 11, for a poignant reception at Windsor Castle for veterans who served in World War 2 and their families in honour of the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, Buckingham Palace announced.
But the Princess of Wales’s name was nowhere to be seen, and there may be a good reason behind it. Back in August, the King and Queen attended a Service of Remembrance and met veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II.
Next week, they will be continuing the commemorations with a special reception in Windsor.
Members of the Firm will view a photographic display at the reception, titled Through Their Eyes.
The display will capture the spirit of the WW2 generation by the Royal British Legion, of which the King is patron.
They will also view an exhibition by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission about their Every Story, For Evermore events series commemorating VE and VJ Day.
Their Majesties will also view the Commonwealth War Graves’ Torch for Peace symbol, aiming to highlight the importance of future peace and the responsibility to carry forward the memory of all those who died.
Despite Kate’s name being absent from the announcement, there may be a reason she opted to skip the event.
The Princess of Wales will attend her own solo engagement on the same day.
Kate, who recently moved from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge with her family, will visit the National Memorial Arboretum as it leads the nation in commemorating Armistice Day with a Service of Remembrance on the Armed Forces Memorial.
The future Queen join attendees in observing the two-minute silence at 11am before laying a wreath in remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and all those who have served in the Armed Forces.
She is expected to view the newly dedicated names on the Armed Forces
Memorial before meeting veterans in attendance at the service and schoolchildren from military families.
She is also expected to view a special exhibition currently on display at the Arboretum, Letters from the Frontline – Words, War and Victory.
Tuesday’s service at the National Memorial Arboretum will feature a reading of a specially commissioned poem by the Arboretum’s Poet in Residence, Arji Manuelpillai, which reflects the importance of personal connections, experiences and bonds that are formed through military service.