Duchess of Gloucester stands in for absent Queen at Field of Remembrance opening

The Duchess of Gloucester has attended the official opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, representing the Queen, who is currently unwell with a chest infection.

Standing in, the Duchess laid the Queen's personal Cross of Remembrance alongside the hundreds of veterans who travelled from across the country to plant a poppy.

The annual commemoration, which offers an opportunity for former service personnel and members of the public to plant a poppy memorial for those who have lost their lives in the Armed Forces, is now in its 96th year.

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Following her arrival, the Duchess was guided on a tour of the memorial by Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis.

The Last Post was sounded from the parapet of St Margaret's Church before Big Ben chimed 11 o'clock to mark the start of a two-minute silence.

After meeting with representatives of the Poppy Factory, the Duchess looked over the 308 plots in this year's Field of Remembrance, talking to veterans as she walked around.

Beverly Williams, who served in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, was representing Bomber Command on behalf of her father, and expressed how "moving" the service was, a "lovely tribute to those we've lost".

She added that it was "lovely to meet the Duchess", she was "very chatty", and even complimented all of her father's medals that she wore.

Bill Veazey, a former RAF Police Warrant Officer, commended the "special, important day".

"Yes, there is Remembrance Sunday, but to go through the process of planting crosses and Remembrance memorial tributes I think is really important.

"It's one of the key dates in my diary, I set it in stone almost."

After touring the plots, the Duchess entered St Margaret's Church to meet members of the clergy before signing the visitor's book.

Queen Camilla is patron of the Poppy Factory, which supports members of the Armed Forces community and their families on their journey into employment, helping hundreds of veterans each year.