Queen lays wreath at Tower of London poppy memorial

Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Tower of London's Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation. Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Queen Elizabeth II has paid tribute to British and Commonwealth First World War dead by visiting a unique poppy memorial commemorating their sacrifice at the Tower of London.

Amid the sea of ceramic blood red poppies, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh laid their own wreath to commemorate the dead.

ITV News Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart reports:

The Tower of London has filled its iconic moat with thousands of ceramic poppies to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Yeoman warder Jim Duncan presents a wreath of poppies to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during a visit to the Tower of London's Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation. Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
A single poppy seen amid the evolving art installation. Credit: Nick Ansell/PA Wire

The creator, ceramic artist Paul Cummins, will fill the evolving installation with 888,246 poppies, honouring each British and Colonial soldier that died during the war.

The last poppy will be planted on 11 November, symbolically marking the end of the First World War.

The art installation has evolved since August and the last poppy will be laid on 11th November. Credit: PA Wire
Harry Mayhead, Pearly King of Bow Bells, examines one of the poppies earlier this month. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Volunteers laying the poppies earlier this month. Credit: PA Wire

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