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Queen visits Tower of London poppy garden | Queen visits Tower of London poppy garden |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have paid tribute to World War One personnel at a Tower of London art installation featuring thousands of ceramic poppies. | The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have paid tribute to World War One personnel at a Tower of London art installation featuring thousands of ceramic poppies. |
The Queen laid a wreath at the Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red exhibit, where each poppy commemorates a fallen WW1 serviceman. | The Queen laid a wreath at the Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red exhibit, where each poppy commemorates a fallen WW1 serviceman. |
By 11 November - Armistice Day - there will be 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for each British and colonial death. | |
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited in August. | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited in August. |
Hundreds of spectators lined the perimeter of the tower's moat during the royal visit. | Hundreds of spectators lined the perimeter of the tower's moat during the royal visit. |
Stage designer Tom Piper, who helped create the poppy installation, said the Queen described the artwork as "impressive". | |
He said: "She was very keen to know the numbers involved. It's captured the imagination of the whole nation so I think it's wonderful we've had the Queen at one end and also completely ordinary people at the other coming. | |
"It's got completely across society." | |
A team of 8,000 volunteers installed the sea of red flowers, which will be removed on 12 November when the installation closes. | A team of 8,000 volunteers installed the sea of red flowers, which will be removed on 12 November when the installation closes. |
The Tower of London was where more than 1,600 men swore an oath to the Crown after enlisting for the war. | |
It was also used as a military depot, ceremonial setting-off point for regiments stationed there and the execution location for 11 German spies. | It was also used as a military depot, ceremonial setting-off point for regiments stationed there and the execution location for 11 German spies. |
Artist Paul Cummins, who met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit, said he had been inspired after reading a soldier's will. | Artist Paul Cummins, who met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit, said he had been inspired after reading a soldier's will. |
He said: "I approached the tower as the ideal setting as its strong military links seemed to resonate. | He said: "I approached the tower as the ideal setting as its strong military links seemed to resonate. |
"The installation is transient, I found this poignant and reflective of human life, like those who lost their lives during the World War One. | "The installation is transient, I found this poignant and reflective of human life, like those who lost their lives during the World War One. |
"I wanted to find a fitting way to remember them." | "I wanted to find a fitting way to remember them." |
Later the royal couple were driven into the Tower complex, where they attended a private service of thanksgiving to mark a project to restore and conserve the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula. | |
Discover more about the World War One Centenary. |