The Duchess wore a military-inspired look for Remembrance Sunday events today. 
The ceremony gets underway at 11am. That is because the ceremony ending the First World War between the Allies and Germany was signed at Compiegne, France at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 
The Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Sussex. 
The veterans start lining up well before 11 am. 
Below, a Chelsea Pensioner forming up at Horse Guards Parade. 
A wide shot. 
The service “honors the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community, the British and Commonwealth veterans, the Allies that fought alongside us and the civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts” per the Royal British Legion.
The Cenotaph is seen from above before wreaths are laid upon it. 
The Telegraph reports, “As Big Ben struck 11am, a two minutes silence was observed, with its beginning and end marked by the firing of a gun by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.”
The Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince Charles led today’s solemn observation. 
He laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of The Queen. 
This is the third year HM has observed the ceremony from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices. 
A wreath was laid on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh as well; he retired from royal duties in 2017. Prince William and Prince Harry prepare to lay their wreaths at the monument. 
Another view shows Prince William, Prince Harry, and Prince Andrew. 
Former prime ministers Theresa May, David Cameron, and Gordon Brown. 
After wreaths were laid by dignitaries, politicians and other officials, there was a service led by Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally. Below, Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Meghan, Countess of Sussex; Sir Timothy Laurence. 
In her story for Town and Country Victoria Murphy notes, “This year marks 100 years since the first two-minute silence on November 11, 1919, marking the moment the First World War came to an end a year earlier.” The Duchess of Cornwall, HM, and the Duchess of Cambridge. 
A wider view of the scene in Whitehall this morning. 
It is clearly a solemn day for HM and all attending. 
Below, the Band of the Irish Guards. 
Nearly 900 personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force were present at the Cenotaph for today’s ceremony, including Troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. 
Below, a contingent from the Royal Navy.
From the BBC’s coverage: “Following the service, crowds lined the streets in the winter sun to watch as up to 10,000 war veterans marched in a slow procession past the war memorial.”
Continuing the BBC’s report: “Regiments and societies walked past the Cenotaph in groups, their pace matching the drumbeat of a brass band.”
Chelsea Pensioners. 
Unfortunately, I do not know the branch of service or division/unit for these gentlemen. 
HM is the only living head of state who served in World War II.
Now for our look at what Kate wore.
She was in a military-inspired jacket with a high point collar, front zipper, padded shoulders and braided trim; it is a sharply tailored piece. Below, a closer look at the swagged trim, reminiscent of the braided aiguilette trim found on some uniforms.
Kate’s hair was styled in an elaborate updo.
She wore a new hat.
It is an elegant design that remains unidentified. This offers a different view with a look at the netting and embellishment. 
Kate wore a new poppy, one that several WKW friends predicted she might wear. It is the Codebreakers Brooch from the Royal British Legion, released earlier this year to honor those who worked in signal intelligence during the Second World War. 
You may remember that Kate’s grandmother, Valerie Glassborow, and twin sister Mary, both worked in signal intelligence during WWII. Below, Valerie Glassborow. 
Both were employed as Foreign Office Civilians at Bletchley Park in the area that managed the interception of enemy signals for decryption. Kate has visited Bletchley Park twice and learned more about their work.
This link takes you to the Royal British Legion USA site and product page for the Codebreakers Brooch ($35). (The link above goes to the UK product page.) Each brooch comes in special packaging with a certificate recognizing one of the 13,000 men and women on the Bletchley Park Roll of Honour. 
The Duchess wore the Bahrain Drop earrings on loan from the Queen. 
They are thus named because the earrings were created using pearls that were a wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth from the ruler of Bahrain. Kate also wore them for Remembrance Sunday in November 2016.
NOTE: I will be updating with more info and photos later this evening. I have unexpectedly had to leave but will be back later to conclude the post.
VIDEOS:
The Press Association has about :45 seconds of video showing poppies being released over the White Cliffs of Dover.
As the nation fell silent to remember the fallen, a gentle shower of poppies fell over the famous White Cliffs of Dover pic.twitter.com/KtAGxYtfHt
— PA Media (@PA) November 10, 2019
LINKAGE:
- A background piece on Remembrance Day from the Telegraph is here
- The Daily Mirror’s coverage is here; The Daily Mail’s primary story is here; the Mail’s piece about the Codebreakers Brooch is here; a BBC article is here;
- Victoria Murphy’s Town & Country story is here; a Hello article is here;
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