Last Remembrance Day, the Queen Mother braved wind and rain, proudly standing throughout the service without the support of her usual walking sticks in honor of the fallen. This year, her daughter, Queen Elizabeth, attended the service in her place. Memories of the events of the last 12 months, which was to be filled with celebrations of the Queen's 50th Jubilee, overwhelmed the monarch, and her eyes overflowed with tears. This emotional moment during the remembrance service at Westminster Abbey was an uncharacteristic display of emotion for Queen Elizabeth, who has rarely cried in public before.
While the Golden Jubilee Year was filled with festivities and high points, it also contained some deeply sad moments for the royal matriarch. In addition to the poignancy of being there in her late mother's role – the Queen Mother died last March – there were thoughts of her sister, Princess Margaret, whom she lost earlier in the year. Recent revelations linked to the trial of former royal butler Paul Burrell must have put tremendous strain on the 76-year-old monarch, who became visibly moved during the minute's silence following her laying of a scarlet poppy-adorned cross in the Field of Remembrance.
"The Queen looked very fragile and emotional as she laid the cross," said one servicegoer. "It is something the Queen Mother used to do every year, and this is the first time she has done it."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Her face damp with tears, the Queen battles to contain her emotion during the remembrance ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Thursday
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The British monarch was standing in for her late mother, who traditionally headed up the ceremony to honour the fallen
