Prince Charles lays wreath at tomb of Unknown Warrior to mark Armistice Day

‘In 1920 we honoured war dead after flu crisis. A century on, it’s right we are doing so again’
Robert Dex @RobDexES11 November 2020

The Prince of Wales today followed in the footsteps of his great grandfather by laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey as the nation fell silent for Armistice Day.

The invitation-only socially distanced service marks the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior — an anonymous British serviceman whose body was brought back from northern France.

He was buried at the west end of the abbey’s nave on November 11, 1920 to represent all those who lost their lives in the First World War but whose place of death was unknown or body never found.

Prince Charles laid a wreath of roses and bay leaves, a replica of the one placed by George V during the original ceremony. Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were among a congregation of just 80, including Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer and families and representatives of veterans of the First World War, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Guests in face masks were required to stay two metres apart

London
Jeremy Selwyn

Several veterans read prayers including Victoria Cross winner Johnson Beharry and George Cross recipient Christopher Finney, who won the honour in Iraq for helping save the lives of his comrades badly injured in a friendly fire attack. He said he was glad the service went ahead despite the coronavirus crisis.

He said: “If we look back to 1920 they had just got through Spanish flu with all those people who died and the economy was on its knees and they could bring out almost everyone in London by the looks of things and do the most magnificent service.

“I think it would have been an absolute tragedy if we were to do nothing and lock ourselves away for the day.

“I really think some things are worth remembering and honouring and this is one of them.”

The Queen, who was advised not to attend today’s service because of the pandemic, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the interment of the Unknown Warrior last Wednesday, when she was seen wearing a face mask in public for the first time. Charles and Camilla will attend another remembrance ceremony on Sunday when they travel to Germany, becoming the first members of the royal family to appear at the German equivalent memorial service in Berlin.

The couple, who will have a coronavirus test before they go, were invited by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who two years ago laid a wreath at the Cenotaph which was seen as a historic act of reconciliation between the two nations.

Chief of the defence staff, General Sir Nick Carter, said: “The burial 100 years ago of the Unknown Warrior was a seminal moment for the British people.

“To many of those who stood in silence or who made the pilgrimage to Westminster, he was not unknown at all. His very anonymity meant that he was the father, husband, son or brother who never came home from the war. Today the tomb reminds us all that war has a cost and that we should never forget those who sacrificed their lives for our free and open way of life.”

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