The Queen Appears In A Face Mask For The First Time To Mark Remembrance Sunday

Pictures of the Queen, 94, marking Remembrance Sunday have been released - and show the monarch wearing a face mask for the first time in public.

The Queen was making a quiet visit to Westminster Abbey to lay flowers on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior earlier this week on the 100th anniversary of the soldier's burial - something she first did after her wedding day. It was her first engagement in London since March: she left Buckingham Palace in March, decamping to Windsor Castle.

As is customary for her appearances around Remembrance Sunday, the Queen wore a black coat - paired with a poppy and a face mask, trimmed with white. Buckingham Palace have not commented on the face mask, but it is thought to have been made by Angela Kelly, who has been the Queen's dresser and confidante for years.

Last month the Queen visited the UK's national security laboratory in Salisbury with Prince William and both royals went without face masks. The move drew criticism from some quarters, though Buckingham Palace insisted all necessary precautions and advice had been taken.

The Queen also led the Royal Family in a socially distanced event to mark Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph. The Duchess of Cambridge stood on a separate balcony, separated from the Duchess of Cornwall by 2 metres. None wore face masks as the event was outside.

Prince Harry has marked the occasion from LA by appearing on military podcast Declassified, talking about how much serving in the army meant to him.

The marking of Remembrance Sunday is, naturally, more low-key than previous memorial events due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Last year saw Prince Charles, his sister Princess Anne and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry lay wreaths, with several other members of the royal family in attendance. The Queen, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate watched from one balcony, while Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watched from the other with Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence. The division led to speculation that Kate and Meghan had been separated due to rumours of internal dramas, but the placement of the members of the family actually comes down to royal precedent: The Queen was joined by the spouses of Charles and William because they are next in line to the throne. As the partners of those further down the line - Sophie is married to Prince Edward, Timothy to Princess Anne and Meghan, of course, to Prince Harry - they are of less importance in terms of the succession.

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