Royals play key role in Remembrance Day events

The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry carry out their first joint engagement as they open the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. Credit: David Crump/PA Wire

The royals joined members of the armed services in silence today as they opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London.

Prince Harry and the Duke of Edinburgh spent nearly an hour meeting veterans and members of the Royal British Legion and Poppy Factory as they were led around the 100,000 crosses that have been planted in memory of fallen soldiers.

After arriving at the Abbey in a Rolls Royce, the pair paid their respects by each laying a small cross of remembrance in front of two wooden crosses from the Graves of Unknown British Soldiers from the First and Second World Wars.

Following two minutes of silence, the pair then met veterans of recent battles.

ITV News' Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart reports:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also took part in Remembrance Day events by meeting staff and volunteers taking part in the Royal British Legion appeal, who called at Kensington Palace as part of a tour across the capital on a 1960's Routemaster Bus.

William and Kate meet volunteers at a London tube station. Credit: Royal British Legion

William and Kate were swamped by members of the public taking pictures as they walked along the high street to the station's entrance hall.

Some 2,000 uniformed personnel, veterans and their supporters hit the capital's streets today for the Royal British Legion appeal ahead of Remembrance Sunday.