Skip to main contentSkip to footer
featured_5_3

The British royal family remembers WWI battle in France: All the photos

July 1, 2016
Share this:
gallery_5_3
Members of the British royal family, including Kate Middleton, Princes William and Harry jumped the Channel to France on June 30 to observe the centenary anniversary of the Battle of Somme in Thiepval. The royals were on hand to attend vigils and services in honor of the WWI battle, which is regarded as the worst day in British military history. Click through for photos from the family's visit to France.
gallery_5_3
Day TwoIt was an official family engagement for Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry in Thiepval, France, as the British royals observed the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, which stands as the worst day in British military history.
Photo: Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
The royal trio attended a service marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme with French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister David Cameron.Photo: Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
Poppies fell from the Thiepval Monument during the two minutes silence at the service.Photo: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
The royal squad looked sharp for their outing in Thiepval.Photo: THIBAULT VANDERMERSCH/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Harry and the Cambridges sang along during the centenary commemoration of the Battle of the Somme.Photo: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
As per usual, Kate was the picture of sophistication stepping out in a bespoke lace peplum dress that featured a peter pan collar and three-quarter sleeves.Photo: FRANCOIS MORI/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
The Duchess completed her elegant look by tying her glossy locks into a low chignon and accessorizing with a black hat from Lock and Co and a pair of pearl drop earrings.Photo: Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
The Royal party met 24 of the 600 UK, Irish and French schoolchildren. The young people were taking part in the commemorations as part of a wider Anglo­-French Somme educational program organized by the British Council.Photo: Gareth Fuller - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walked past names of the missing at the memorial. Kate told schoolchildren she was finding her visit to the Somme "quite emotional." Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
The couple chatted with young people after laying wreaths during the service. Chatting with teenagers, Kate said the experience had been "very moving." Photo: Gareth Fuller - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Prince Charles and his wife walked amongst a sea of children at the memorial.Photo: Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
Chivalrous brothers! Princes William and Harry kept Kate dry from the rain, holding up umbrellas during a centenary service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Thiepval Memorial.Photo: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Will, Harry and Kate appeared excited to visit the World War I Thiepval monument in northern France.Photo: FRANCOIS MORI/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, shielded herself from the rain under her umbrella at the centenary commemoration, beside her husband Prince Charles and Prime Minister David Cameron.Photo: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
The royals and fellow dignitaries took shelter from the rain with umbrellas during the service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial.Photo: Gareth Fuller - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Prince George and Princess Charlotte's parents chatted with a soldier during their visit to the Thiepval memorial to the Missing in France. Photo: Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Harry, Kate and William toured a new visitors' center at the Lutyens-designed Thiepval Monument to the Missing of the Somme with French President Francois. Photo: FRANCOIS MORI/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Prince William and France's President Francois Hollande unveiled a commemorative plaque inside the World War I Thiepval monument.Photo: FRANCOIS MORI/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
The royal couple and Prince Harry paid their respects as they somberly stood guard at the memorial ceremony.Photo: FRANCOIS MORI/AFP/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
Harry and Kate bowed their heads in silence at the 100th anniversary service at the Thiepval memorial to the Missing.Photo: Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
During the engagement, Prince Harry told students, "It's important that you are here. There are all sorts of parts of history that are being forgotten." He also added, "It's important for us to remember older history as well as more recent history. I'm actually quite jealous of you guys getting to spend five days here learning all about it. You will come back with a huge amount of knowledge."
Photo: Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_3_5
The Duchess of Cornwall donned a navy, dotted dress, which she paired with a matching coat for the royal family visit to France. Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
gallery_5_3
President Francois Hollande and Prince Charles paid their respects after laying wreaths at the Cross of Sacrifice.Photo: Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
Day OnePrince Harry, Kate Middleton and Prince William travelled to France to observe Somme Centenary commemorations. The royal trio stepped out on June 30 to attend a vigil to remember the deadliest battle in British history.
Photo: Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with Harry visited the Thiepval Memorial.Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
gallery_5_3
The royal peered over the ledge of the 150-foot high memorial in France.Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
gallery_3_5
The mom-of-two looked chic wearing a black, white and grey zigzag print coat by Missoni for the solemn occasion. Kate topped off her look with a black vintage-style pillbox hat.Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
gallery_3_5
Princess Charlotte's mom and dad took in the surrounding areas during their visit to the memorial.Photo: Tim Rooke - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_5_3
The royal trio looked visibly moved attending the military-led vigil that was commemorating the 100th anniversary of the largest and bloodiest battle of the First World War, which left more than one million dead/wounded.Photo: Steve Parsons - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
The Duke and Duchess shared a silly moment together amidst the somber engagement.Photo: Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images
gallery_1_1
Prince Harry spoke at the vigil, reading the poem Before Action. The piece was written by Lieutenant WN Hodgson, before he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.Photo: Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information please click here.

More Royalty

See more