The significance of Kate Middleton's three poppies on Remembrance Day

Kate Middleton
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Royal fans have been thrilled to see Kate Middleton back in action after her health battles as she turned out for Remembrance Sunday. The Princess of Wales joined Prince William and King Charles at the Remembrance Sunday memorial service in central London today.

The 42 year old Princess Kate was seen wearing a black dress and coat, adorned with three poppies on her chest. The mother of three honoured Queen Elizabeth II by completing her ensemble with pearl drop earrings.

These earrings were a wedding gift received by her late grandmother-in-law back in 1947.

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This wasn't the first occasion that Kate attended the Cenotaph sporting three poppies. She chose to wear three red flowers to the annual Remembrance Sunday Service back in 2015, having worn just one the previous year.

She maintained this tradition of wearing a trio each year until 2019 when she opted for the Codebreakers brooch in tribute to her grandmother, Valerie Glassborrow.

In 2020, Kate returned to the tradition of wearing three poppies but added the Royal British Legion crystal flower as an accessory.

The palace has never officially explained why female members of the family often don a collection of poppies.

One theory suggests that Kate's choice is to honour her great-grandmother's three brothers, who all perished in the First World War.

The late Queen was thought to have worn five poppies as a representation of The Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Defence Medical Services.

Since 1921, poppies have stood as a symbol of remembrance and hope for the future.

King Charles and the Prince of Wales each donned a single poppy as they stood with veterans in a two-minute silence at 11 am this morning.

The Royal family members, including senior royals, paid their respects by laying wreaths during the service to commemorate those who served and gave their lives in war.

Kate was seen standing next to the Duchess of Edinburgh on a balcony, observing the event.

This marked her second day in a row of Royal duties since last December.