Among the military uniforms on parade were also the black and yellow scarves of the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, established by war widow Nikki Scott in memory of Corporal Lee Scott of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment who was killed in Helmand in 2009.
He left behind two children and his daughter Brooke, 12, took part in the march past wearing the scarf in her father’s regimental colours.
Also among the 45 Scotty’s Little Soldiers on parade were eight-year-olds Evie Hebden and Jacob Stokoe whose fathers were killed in 2013 and 2019 and were the youngest to take part on Sunday.
During the ceremony, one old soldier came up and gave Jacob his beret, which he was wearing long after the official commemorations had finished. This is the mantle of remembrance, passed from one generation to the next.
The Queen’s recent timeline
The national Remembrance Sunday service is just one of a key number of engagements the Queen has missed over the past few weeks.
Northern Ireland
The Queen cancelled a two-day trip to Northern Ireland at the last minute on October 20, and spent the night at King Edward VII’s Hospital – her first overnight hospital stay in eight years.
Cop26 Climate Change Summit
The Queen was due to travel to Scotland to address world leaders on November 1, but five days before the event, the Palace said the Queen had “regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception of Cop26”.
Festival of Remembrance
On October 29, the Palace said the Queen had been advised to rest for at least a further two weeks and she would miss the annual Festival of Remembrance for the Armed Forces at the Royal Albert Hall.
Remembrance Sunday
The Queen’s attendance at the national service of remembrance on November 14 was confirmed in details released on Armistice Day on November 11, but less than two hours before she was due to appear it was announced she could not attend due to a sprained back.
The General Synod
The Queen is also set to miss the General Synod, the Church of England’s legislative assembly, at Westminster Abbey on November 16.
