The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend The Poppy Factory’s 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey

D-Day veterans join thousands gathered for the ceremony in the 75^th anniversary year of the Normandy landings

The opening ceremony of The Poppy Factory's 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey was today (Thursday, November 7th) attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Thousands of wooden crosses and symbols have been planted at the Field in tribute to all those in the Armed Forces who have lost their lives. Veterans of the Normandy landings were among those present at this year’s ceremony, which follows the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The Field at Westminster Abbey has been organised and run by The Poppy Factory since 1928. It is formed of 378 plots laid out with more than 60,000 Remembrance symbols, made by the wounded, injured and sick veterans and dependents of veterans who work year-round at the factory in Richmond-upon-Thames.

Crosses and symbols of all faiths and none are planted on the North Green of the Abbey according to the names of military organisations and associations. Most bear a poppy and include a hand-written message from family, friends or comrades.

Alongside its continued commitment to Remembrance, The Poppy Factory works to transform the lives of veterans with mental or physical health conditions throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More than 1,250 wounded, injured and sick veterans around the UK have been supported back into meaningful and sustained employment in their communities by the charity since 2010.

The Field of Remembrance was started in 1928 by the founder of The Poppy Factory, Major George Howson MC, together with a group of wounded ex-Servicemen at St Margaret’s Church. They gathered around a wooden cross taken from a battlefield grave of an unknown British soldier and invited passers-by to plant a poppy around a wooden cross.