Prince William is not attending tonight’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, GB News understands, as he travels back to the UK following a five-day working visit to Brazil.
The Prince of Wales has spent the past week in Rio de Janeiro and Belém undertaking environmental engagements tied to his Earthshot Prize and the UN climate agenda.
Back in London tonight, King Charles and Queen Camilla are leading members of the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall.
The festival is marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two and reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the UK lifting the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual personnel serving openly in the armed forces.
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Princess Kate, Prince George, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are all present to support the King and Queen.
William’s absence is logistical rather than ceremonial; the Brazil itinerary has run across this week with events on November 3–7, including the Earthshot ceremony on November 5 and follow-on meetings in Belém on November 7.
This made a same-day turnaround for the London engagement impractical.
The Festival of Remembrance traditionally closes with the Act of Remembrance, poppy petals falling from the roof and a moment of national silence.
Prince William absent from Royal Family lineup at Festival of Remembrance
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The Prince of Wales is due back on home soil imminently after a high-impact week projecting his climate leadership on the world stage.
The 43-year-old is expected to be present with the royal contingent on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.
Princess Kate was seen arriving with Prince George shortly before tonight's ceremony began.
The Princess of Wales has regularly attended the Festival in previous years, but this marks the first time she has done so accompanied by her eldest son.
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Prince George joining his mother, Princess Kate, on the eve of Remembrance Sunday | REUTERSHighlights from William's trip included receiving the ceremonial keys to the city of Rio from Mayor Eduardo Paes at Sugarloaf Mountain on Monday, meeting finalists at Christ the Redeemer, and hosting the fifth annual Earthshot Prize awards at the Museum of Tomorrow on Wednesday.
At the awards, five winners — including re.green (Brazil), Friendship (Bangladesh), the City of Bogotá, Lagos Fashion Week and the UN High Seas Treaty — were each awarded £1million to scale their solutions.
The Prince of Wales Earthshot Prize award ceremony was hosted in Brazil on Wednesday evening | GETTYIn his address, William urged “optimism” despite “uncertain times.”
The Prince also undertook a string of public-facing moments across the city — from conservation activities and a visit to the island of Paquetá to engagements with indigenous leaders in the Amazon region — part of a programme positioning Earthshot as a bridge to Cop30 next year.