The Queen at the Tower

The Queen was at the Tower of London today to visit the installation of ceramic poppies that has been growing in its moat for two months now to mark the centenary of the start of World War One. Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red will eventually contain over 888,000 poppies - one for each British and Commonwealth casualty of the Great War.  The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh viewed the flowers today and left a wreath of their own in memory of those who died in the conflict.

The Queen at the Tower of London to view the exhibition of ceramic poppies marking the centenary of the start of World War One

(photo Historic Royal Palaces Twitter)

The Queen and the Duke spent several minutes at the installation, walking among the poppies which form a poignant tribute at one of London's most famous sights.  The royal couple later attended a service at the newly refurbished St Peter Ad Vincula Chapel - the last resting place of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard - during their visit to the Tower.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh amongst the poppies

(photo Historic Royal Palaces Twitter)

The poppies got their first royal visitors two months ago when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited the installation on August 5th 2014.  It was the last public appearance for the duchess before her second pregnancy was announced.  Today, the Queen saw the gentle spread of glistening poppies at the moat of the Tower - a moving moment of memorial in a year of commemorations.