The Duchess Wears Alexander McQueen for Historic Remembrance Sunday

The Duchess of Cambridge wore Alexander McQueen for today’s historic Remembrance Sunday ceremonies.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen, and the Duchess of Cambridge watched the ceremony in Whitehall.

This year’s service marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending hostilities in the First World War. Below, the scene in London 100 years ago.

Topical Press Agency/Getty-Images

I am often asked where the balconies are that you see people standing on to watch the service. It is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall. The blue arrows on the image below show you where Sophie Wessex is (left arrow); HM, Camilla and Kate are beneath the center arrow; on the right, the Duchess of Sussex is with Elke Büdenbender, wife of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany.

After heavy rain earlier in the morning the skies cleared. The Evening Standard reports: “Big Ben sounded 11 times when the clock struck 11am as the nation honoured the Armistice centenary and also remembered all those who have lost their lives in conflict.”

The Armistice decreed that hostilities would cease at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

More from The Evening Standard.

Charles laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of his mother the Queen for the second year in a row while an equerry placed a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh.

For the first time ever he was joined the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking a historic act of reconciliation between the two nations.

Another view of HM with Camilla and Kate.

From the left, you see Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, and Prince William as they step forward with their wreaths. Unseen, Prince Edward; the four presented their wreaths together.

A police officer bows his head.

A wreath is laid on behalf of blind veterans.

On the Thames a flotilla carried wreaths.

This year there was an additional element of the ceremony today. Sky TV’s story has more:

Thousands of people marched past the Cenotaph in central London to pay their own respects to the soldiers who fought in the First World War.

For the first time, after the Royal Family and Commonwealth representatives laid their wreaths, 10,000 people were able to walk past the memorial and lay their own tributes, remembering loved ones lost in the war.

The “People’s Procession” was intended as a national “thank you” to the fallen military personnel.

The day was marked around the world.  In Fort William, Scotland.

At the St. Symphorien Military Cemetery in Belgium, where homage was paid to the last Canadian soldier to fall before the Armistice was signed. 

In Canberra, Australia, at the War Memorial.

Where the Wall of Remembrance is covered in poppies.

Including a handmade tribute.

At the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in Klagenfurt, Austria.

In Auckland, where a Field of Remembrance honors New Zealand’s war dead.

At the Tower of London, where every night for the past week, Beyond the Deepening Shadows: The Tower Remembers has showcased 10,000 individual flames lit by a team of Beefeaters and volunteers.

At Hamid Karzai Airport in Afghanistan.

In Scotland, current and former members took part in the Commando Memorial Service in Spean Bridge, Scotland.

Today’s service looked remarkable on tv and online, I can only imagine what it must have been like in person.

After the wreath laying, active and former service personnel proceed past the Cenotaph.

Roughly 88,000 ex-Service and Civilian Associations marched down Whitehall.

These are some of their faces.

Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s ceremony.

The Duchess was in a bespoke piece from Alexander McQueen, a design with multiple military uniform references. The jacket combines elements from many McQueen styles, including the two shown below. You see the body of the jacket and waistband’s similarity to those on the Military Jacket, while the collar and epaulets are like those seen on the Military Jacket with Lace Inserts shown on the right.

Many thanks to the ever-fashionable Jane of From Berkshire to Buckingham and the always-savvy Heaven for their ID work on this piece!

Kate was ina new chapeau this morning. It looks like a custom version of the Abney style (£795) by Lock and Company.

Our thanks to Michelle of Perths Fashions for her info on the McQueen military jackets, as well as her speedy ID of Kate’s hat!

The Duchess wore the Women of the First World War poppy we have seen previously.

The poppy has been sold out, but the piece is available for pre-ordering from the Royal British Legion Poppy Shop.

Kate brought back the Cassandra Goad earrings first seen at the christening of Prince Louis, the Cavolfiore Pearl Studs style (from £4360).

The Duchess wore her hair up.

Kate has on black gloves today, but I’ve not yet seen a photo that is lit well enough to show distinguishing design elements that would help identify them.

A reminder that we’ll see you tonight as the Day of Remembrance ends with a special service at Westminster Abbey, “to give thanks for peace and those who returned.”