Queen praises ‘beautiful' poppy display at Tower of London
Camilla visited the historic fortress on Tuesday to launch The Tower Remembers, marking VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The new installation features 30,000 ceramic poppies from the 2014 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red artwork, now redesigned to flow from the White Tower.
Camilla admired the ceramic flowers and joked: 'I see why people would take them. I think they're so lovely. Quite tempting.'
Project lead Tom O'Leary guided the Queen through the artwork, saying afterwards: 'She was very interested in it. She really liked the way that all the different heights comingulate.'
Poet laureate Simon Armitage then read In Retrospect, a poem commissioned to mark VE Day.
The Queen told him warmly: 'Lovely. Lovely poem. Thank you very much,' before asking how long it had taken to write.
She met members of the Historic Royal Palaces and Tower teams who helped create the display, as well as D-Day veterans Henry Rice and Richard Aldred, who handed her a poppy to plant.
Camilla was also joined by Yeoman Warder Tracey Machin and her five-year-old son Harrison, who planted a poppy alongside the Queen.
Harrison said: 'I did a poppy with the Queen. This is my poppy,' pointing to the ceramic flower he had planted.
Asked why the moment was important, he replied: 'Because it's really, really special.'
He said he enjoyed living at the Tower of London, explaining: 'You get to see all the nice stuff,' and that it had been a 'really good' day.
After helping with the ceremony, he was given a dragon teddy called Puffy.
'We chatted about all the poppies being here and it was really, really nice for them to be here,' he said.
Ms Machin said: 'I could not be prouder of Harrison. He did such an excellent job.
'When you're five anything could happen so I'm really proud that he stayed very still. Her Majesty the Queen was absolutely wonderful. You can tell she has grandchildren herself.
'She was dressed absolutely beautifully in red and black, co-ordinating perfectly with our poppies. I think she was very impressed with the display as well.'
The Queen was wearing gloves decorated with poppies, and told one attendee she had been given them in France last year.
Mr Rice, 99, said of the visit: 'Memorable, that's the best word, because last year I went to France and had the pride and pleasure of meeting His Majesty and Her Majesty. I said to her quietly, 'We met last year', she said, 'Yes, I know', and that is fabulous. I mean, why should she remember me?'
He added: 'Each one of those poppies there represents a man that gave his life to allow me, my family, this country in fact, to live in peace and comfort.
'I really do thank them and they are my heroes, all of them.'
Outside the Tower, crowds clapped and cheered as the Queen greeted them.
She shook hands with schoolchildren, joking about them missing lessons, before she departed.
One member of the public called out: 'God save the King, we all love Camilla, give us a wave.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
How to get two theme park visits for the price of one this summer
The cost of summer holiday activities can quickly add up, which is why we're always on the hunt for cost-effective ways to have fun. Case in point: if you're looking for a cheap family day out this summer, we've found a deal that will save on theme park visits. Until Sunday 17 August, when you book a ticket for Alton Towers, Chessington, Legoland Windsor or Thorpe Park, you'll get a ticket for a second visit for free. This doesn't mean visiting the same theme park twice, as it can be used at any of the four parks. In order to qualify, you'll need to pre-book a 'twice the fun' ticket to get your hands on the freebie. You'll then receive a confirmation email with a barcode, which you can use to make your second booking, so keep this handy. The second ticket is valid until Tuesday, 30 September, so there is plenty of time to squeeze in a second visit. It is rare for a free ticket offer to come along, particularly during peak season. Advanced tickets to the theme parks typically start from around £34, so if you're visiting as a family, that's a chunky saving for your second visit. You can book your visit using the links below, or keep reading if you want more inspiration on which of the theme parks to visit this summer. Alton Towers If you've got little thrill-seekers to entertain this summer, Alton Towers is worth a visit. There are nine roller coasters to enjoy, including the Toxicator, which is new for 2025, while younger kids can head to the rides and attractions in CBeebies Land. Alton Towers is located outside of Stoke-on-Trent, so if you're based in the north of England, this is likely to be your nearest major theme park. Chessington World of Adventures There are plenty of adventures for kids of all ages to enjoy at Chessington, with rides inspired by the fantasy board game Jumanji, the tales of the Gruffalo and more. Your ticket also includes a visit to the park's zoo and aquarium, with the chance to see penguins, giraffes, monkeys and zebras. The park is based just outside of London, and there are regular train services running from the capital to Chessington South, which is around a 10-minute walk away. Legoland Windsor There are more than 50 rides and attractions to enjoy at Legoland Windsor. Kids can cool off on a hot day in the splash safari water play park, hop aboard the Lego submarine as part of the deep-sea adventure, get behind the wheel at the Lego driving school and lots more. The theme park is two miles outside of Windsor town centre, with shuttle services available from nearby train stations. Thorpe Park If you or your youngsters can't get enough of roller coasters, a visit to Thorpe Park is a must. The theme park is home to Hyperia, the UK's tallest and fastest rollercoaster, plus five other rides for those that want an adrenaline-filled day out. There are also plenty of rides and play areas for little ones, so the whole family can enjoy the day. The theme park is located in Chertsey, which is about 30 minutes outside of London, with shuttle buses running to the park from nearby train stations.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Beloved ITV detective show slapped with 'trigger warning' for crime scenes in 'woke' move
ITV 's Inspector Morse has been slapped with a 'trigger warning' in a move that has been branded ' woke '. The popular series now features a pre-warning for crime scenes throughout the show, which seems to have caused a stir with people online. The streaming giant also advises there are 'satanic images' in one episode of the drama. It then has a parental lock on the episode, titled Day of the Devil. Inspector Morse first aired from 1987 to 2000, with a total of eight series. Other episodes also feature a warning over crime and violence. The popular series now features a pre-warning for crime scenes throughout the show, which seems to have caused a stir with people online Speaking about the update, Senior MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke slammed: 'This is another example of soft-touch Britain seeping into everything. 'We're just going to be laughed at as a country if things like this continue, because nobody's prepared for the real world where there are no.' Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment. In the past, it has said about general alerts: 'Programming that contains politically sensitive or distressing themes, content, or language has carried appropriate warnings since our launch.' Just a few weeks ago, Netflix bosses axed an iconic moment from Pride and Prejudice to avoid 'objectifying men'. The unforgettable scene of Mr Darcy - played by Colin Firth - emerging from a lake was all the rage in 1995. But show bosses have confirmed it will not resurface in the forthcoming version of the rom-com. According to reports, many fans will be disappointed as the famous BBC scene is said to have 'got millions of women hot under the collar'. A source told The Sun: 'It is also credited for sparking subsequent moments of male objectification on screen - likes Aidan Turner's famous topless scything scene in Poldark.' It's claimed that Netflix bosses 'don't want a repeat'. The saucy scene soon became one of the most favourite TV scenes, however it didn't actually feature in Jane Austen's original 1813 story. Arguably the most iconic wet shirt ever worn sold at auction for £25,000 - double its estimated sale price.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Maya Jama shares slew of loved-up snaps with footballer boyfriend Ruben Dias as she enjoys 'work and play' getaway
Maya Jama has shared some loved-up snaps with footballer boyfriend Ruben Dias as she continues to enjoy balancing 'work and play'. The Love Island host, 30, found the time to post on Instagram between her busy schedule as she spends time between Mallorca and London. She posted a carousel dump from the last week which involved behind-the-scenes of filming and enjoying a holiday with the Man City player and their pals. In a post, she told fans: 'Work & play balancing [sparkle emoji].' In the slew of snaps, Maya looked incredible in a body-hugging dress, where she stood outside of the Love Island villa. She was later seen dancing away with her boyfriend as they watched the sunset on a boat trip together. The new couple cuddled and posed for a selfie where they looked happier than ever. When she wasn't booked and busy filming, the TV star enjoyed relaxing in the pool, sharing images of her in the water. She also switched off with some yoga in the mornings, with a stunning sea view from her room. Maya made sure to include some sexy bikini pics too, showing off her incredible curves. The couple recently enjoyed a holiday to Ibiza where they packed on the PDA. The presenter captioned the post: 'La isla de la magia' which translates to 'The Magic Island' and smitten Ruben quickly commented with a love heart emoji. Maya has been dating Ruben for several months and recently confirmed their romance on social media. The pair have appeared to have gone from strength to strength with the sportsman flying out to Spain to support Maya while she is filming Love Island. As she shared an album of fun snaps soaking up the sun, Ruben also shared some moments with Maya. Alongside the post Ruben confirmed his love for the star and penned: 'Sun, love, crocodiles, some fits and one advice.' And Maya appeared to approve of his sweet declaration as she commented with a love heart and fire emoji. The couple are believed to have met after the stunner caught the Portuguese player's eye when they met at the European Music Awards (EMAs) in November. Their romance was finally confirmed after they were seen packing on the PDA at KSI's Baller League event in April.
