Sophie Wessex joins Princess Anne and Prince Edward at the Cenotaph service

Sophie Wessex cut a dignified figure in an all-black ensemble as she attended the Remembrance Sunday service today.

The Countess of Wessex, 57, looked sombre as she joined her husband Prince Edward and Princess Anne at the Cenotaph service.  

The mother-of-two accessorised her outfit with earrings and a necklace made of pearls, which are traditionally worn to symbolise mourning.

In keeping with her appropriately pared down outfit, she wore a neat black hat, styling her blonde locks into a low bun beneath it.

Sophie Wessex cut a dignified figure in a black ensemble as she attended the Remembrance Sunday service

Meanwhile her husband, the Earl of Wessex (pictured) laid a wreath, before one was laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent

Meanwhile her husband, the Earl of Wessex (pictured) laid a wreath, before one was laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent

Princess Anne looked sombre as she took part in the Remembrance Sunday service by laying a wreath

Princess Anne looked sombre as she took part in the Remembrance Sunday service by laying a wreath

Sophie also made a poignant nod to the significance of the day through a brooch in the shape of a poppy, which she pinned to her lapel.

The brooch celebrates women’s achievements throughout the services, representing those who have broken boundaries, launched legacies, and been the ‘first’ to achieve a rank or position within the Armed Forces. 

Featuring a Swarovski Stone, the brooch, which is from the Poppy Shop, costs £29.99.

Her appearance comes as the Royal Family mark a major milestone today – the first Remembrance Sunday service following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

While he has stood in for his late mother in the past, today marked the first time King Charles led the ceremony as Monarch.

King Charles III led other members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal, out to attend the Cenotaph service

King Charles III led other members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal, out to attend the Cenotaph service

The Prince of Wales also looked unusually emotional as he took part in the ceremony his grandmother held so dear to her

The Prince of Wales also looked unusually emotional as he took part in the ceremony his grandmother held so dear to her

Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, also laid a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph today

Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, also laid a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph today

The Queen Consort (pictured, left) and Kate, Princess of Wales (pictured, right) stood together as they watched the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph today

The Queen Consort (pictured, left) and Kate, Princess of Wales (pictured, right) stood together as they watched the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph today

The visibly emotional King placed a new poppy wreath incorporating a ribbon of his racing colours, with the design a tribute to the ones used by both his late mother and his grandfather George VI. 

Meanwhile Big Ben chimed eleven times at 11am, as it returned to service after years of maintenance and repair.

Earlier, at around 10:40am, the march past the Cenotaph paused temporarily while Scottish members of the UK’s armed forces, the Fourth Battalion of Highlanders, played the bagpipes, accompanied by drums.

At 10.58am, the military parade was brought to attention as King Charles III arrived. Big Ben rang eleven times to mark the beginning of the two minutes of silence, and a sombre hush fell over the crowd.

The Cenotaph in London, pictured moments before the arrival of King Charles III and the two-minute silence

The Cenotaph in London, pictured moments before the arrival of King Charles III and the two-minute silence

Some 10,000 veterans and military personnel are involved in today's march, which ends at the Cenotaph

Some 10,000 veterans and military personnel are involved in today’s march, which ends at the Cenotaph

Huge crowds gathered along the streets of Westminster to watch the military parade on Sunday morning

Huge crowds gathered along the streets of Westminster to watch the military parade on Sunday morning

After the two minutes of prayer and reflection had ended, in an emotional tribute to those killed during the wars of the last century, members of the military played the Last Post.  

King Charles III then laid his wreath and saluted to the Cenotaph on behalf of the nation. A wreath was then laid on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Consort.

The Prince of Wales then proceeded to lay his wreath, complete with the feathers of the heir apparent. This was the wreath previously laid by his father. The wreath, bearing the colours of the Prince of Wales, also bears a brand-new ribbon in Welsh red.

The Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal then laid a wreath, before one was laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent.  

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bowed his head after laying his wreath in a mark of respect for those who lost their lives

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bowed his head after laying his wreath in a mark of respect for those who lost their lives

Ian Blackford, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (L-R) hold their wreaths in preparation as they wait for the arrival of King Charles III

Ian Blackford, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (L-R) hold their wreaths in preparation as they wait for the arrival of King Charles III

Seven former Prime Ministers lined up at the Cenotaph on Sunday, the most ever to watch the current PM lay his wreath

Seven former Prime Ministers lined up at the Cenotaph on Sunday, the most ever to watch the current PM lay his wreath

Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner leading a parade for Remembrance Sunday in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester on Sunday

Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner leading a parade for Remembrance Sunday in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester on Sunday

(Left to right) British former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's his wife Akshata Murty, British former Prime Minister Theresa May's husband Philip May and British former Prime Minister Liz Truss' husband Hugh O'Leary attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony

(Left to right) British former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair’s wife Cherie Blair, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s his wife Akshata Murty, British former Prime Minister Theresa May’s husband Philip May and British former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ husband Hugh O’Leary attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony

Numerous former Prime Ministers including Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron and Tony Blair are also there, some of whom are laying wreaths at the Cenotaph.

Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle also laid a wreath on behalf of the entire House of Commons.

The Queen, who died nine weeks ago at the age of 96, considered Remembrance Sunday, which commemorates the war dead, one of the most significant and important engagements in the royal calendar.

She first laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in 1945 when she was still a princess. The nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who lived through the Second World War as a teenager and was head of the armed forces, only missed seven Cenotaph services during her reign, including in 2021 due to a back sprain.

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