To mark Armistice Day on Tuesday, Prince William delivered a speech via video, encouraging young people to participate in remembrance commemorations and emphasizing the importance of wearing a poppy.
In his message for the Royal British Legion’s “Remembrance Assembly,” which was open to students between the ages of 9 to 14, the Prince of Wales said the day was “a reminder that Remembrance is for everyone.”
“When we remember, we connect with service in a personal way. We learn from the courage of others, and we carry their stories forward, so they are not forgotten. It’s not just about the past — it’s about shaping who we become in the future,” William, who served in the navy, the army and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, said. “Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience, and responsibility. And when we wear a red poppy or take a moment of silence, we are saying, ‘Thank you. We have not forgotten, and we will not forget.’”
In the UK, the poppy symbolizes respect and remembrance for those who have died in active service. The tradition comes from the 1915 wartime poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae which describes red poppies growing between the graves of the fallen. The poppy is seen as both a symbol of bloodshed but also of hope and renewal.
