Prince William fought back tears as he placed a wreath at a London memorial in remembrance of the country’s war dead yesterday (11.11.07).
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The prince – a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment – struggled to maintain his composure as he honoured those who have died fighting for their country, including two of his friends, at the Cenotaph
monument to mark Remembrance Day.
William’s close friend Second Lieutenant Jo Dyer was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq earlier this year aged only 24, while Major Alexis Roberts, a mentor from the prince’s days training at Sandhurst Military Academy, lost his life in Afghanistan last month.
An onlooker told the Daily Mirror: ‘William clenched his jaw and looked determined to stay strong, but it clearly had an effect on him. Memories were probably flooding back of his friend who died in Iraq and his mentor who lost his life in Afhghanistan last month. But he held his head high and was obviously proud.’
Queen Elizabeth led a two-minute silence for Britain’s war dead as the clock struck 11am yesterday (11.11.07). She then laid a wreath at the Cenotaph war memorial before William did the same.
The 25-year-old prince’s grandfather Prince Philip and father Prince Charles then also laid their wreaths.
The moving service was attended by thousands of veterans, who marched to the memorial with war medals pinned to their chests.
William’s younger brother Harry, also a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals, was not present.
A spokeswoman for Harry’s London residence Clarence House said he attended a private remembrance service with his regiment.
