As the national anthem rang out, sung with fervour by the hundreds who gathered at the Cenotaph with military veterans and the Royal Family, it was impossible not to feel this year had a special significance.
Just 90 minutes before, royal aides had announced that the Queen had “with great regret” not been able to join the event due to a back strain. In a reign of almost 70 years it was only the seventh time she had not attended and just the first due to illness.
Palace aides hurried to allay fears that Her Majesty’s condition was not more serious, but many will be worried, given the unwillingness of Buckingham Palace to keep the nation informed when the Queen was in hospital last month.
For now, we are told she has been told to rest up at Windsor and will be up to doing light duties as she recovers.
Anyone who has suffered a bad back will know how awfully debilitating it can be.
No one would be more upset by yesterday’s turn of events than the Queen.
She had been determined to make the commemorations, especially after last year’s scaled down ceremony due to Covid, the centenary of the Royal British Legion and the passing this year of her husband Prince Philip, a decorated military man.
But we must remember that the Queen is 95. Her doctors and her family will hope she takes the opportunity to recover properly before her Christmas schedule kicks off.
