Emotional King Charles unveils new images of his late parents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip as he is joined by Camilla, William and Kate for the special Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

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King Charles looked emotional after he and Camilla today unveiled the statues of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ahead of the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in London.

The life-size bronze works, commemorating the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s dedication to the Royal Albert Hall, were erected as part of the building’s 150th anniversary.

Charles, 74, was accompanied by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

The king unveiled the statue of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Camilla unveiled the statue of Prince Philip.

They arrived at the historic concert hall in London where they unveiled the statues ahead of the annual commemoration ceremony.

Works of art by Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, were also unveiled at the Royal Albert Hall this week.

The sculptures, created by artist Poppy Field, ‘complete’ the building by filling the niches of the north veranda, which have been empty since 1871, and the south veranda, which was added in 2003.

King Charles was pictured unveiling images of his mother, the late Queen and Prince Philip

A statue of Queen Elizabeth II (L) unveiled by King Charles and a statue of Prince Philip unveiled by Queen Camilla (R)

The Princess of Wales will today attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The commission for the sculptures was awarded following a competition involving a shortlist of seven sculptors, supported by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), a charity supporting excellence in British craftsmanship.

Ian McCulloch, President of the Royal Albert Hall, said: “It is particularly fitting that our landmark building marks the contribution to our history of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, who dedicatedly supported and attended the Hall for this purpose. many decades.’

The event commemorates the service and sacrifice of service members and marks 80 years since the Battle of the Atlantic and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

In tribute to the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, this year’s festival will also honor the contribution of the Windrush generation to the military.

The king, 74, was pictured wearing a black blazer, white shirt, patterned tie and a poppy on his chest, as a sign of respect for those who served the country.

The Red Poppy – the symbol of the Royal British Legion – is a symbol of both remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the armed forces community.

The Princess of Wales wore a black pleated dress with long sleeves, a pearl necklace and a poppy on her gown.

Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, greeted people today at the festival, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall.

Queen Camilla wore a black dress and several poppies today as she attended the festival in London

The royal family was photographed today at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Pictured: From left to right: Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Queen Camilla and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence

King Charles looked emotional as he unveiled the new images of his mother and father today

Princess Anne was photographed at the festival today

Princess Anne greeted people at the festival in London today

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata and Labor leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were also at the event.

On Sunday, Charles will lead the nation in remembrance at the Cenotaph, after a day of violent clashes in central London between counter-protesters and police – who tried to stop them from interfering with a major pro-Palestinian march.

The Met Police said dozens of people were arrested on Saturday, including 82 in an incident in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, when a ‘large group’ of counter-protesters tried to reach the march.

Counter-protesters had previously clashed with police near the Cenotaph, ahead of an Armistice Day service.

Clashes broke out when police tried to stop a crowd of people carrying St George’s flags and marching along the Embankment towards Whitehall, where the cenotaph is located, shortly after 10am.

The group, who had sung ‘England until I die’, pushed through the police barrier, with some shouting ‘let’s have them’ as officers struck with batons.

Further clashes with police took place in Chinatown, with counter-protesters chanting at officers: ‘You’re not English anymore’.