In an act of remembrance, Queen Camilla visited the Tower of London to view a moving commemorative display of poppies marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Her visit comes after The Queen joined The King and members of the Royal Family in watching a military procession and flypast at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Camilla visited the Tower of London to view its poppy display. (Royal Family)
During her visit, Her Majesty met with representatives from the Tower of London and those behind the installation. She also met schoolchildren and veterans who attended the event.
Additionally, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage performed a new poem specially written to mark the anniversary. The piece was created to commemorate a the historical milestone.
Camilla at the Tower of London. (Royal Family)
The installation at the Tower honours the countless lives lost during the Second World War and serves as a powerful visual reminder of the enduring legacy of global conflict.
Nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies – originally part of the iconic 2014 installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ — have returned to the historic Tower grounds for this special anniversary. First created to mark the centenary of the First World War, the poppies have become enduring symbols of remembrance and sacrifice. They are on loan from Imperial War Museums, and were originally conceived by artist Paul Cummins.
This newly commissioned installation, designed by Tom Piper, creates a dramatic visual experience within the Tower’s ancient walls. The poppies appear to pour like blood across the Tower’s lawn, overlooked by the imposing White Tower, forming a vivid ‘wound’ at the heart of the fortress. This design not only echoes the structure’s own history—having been bombed during the Blitz—but also symbolises the far-reaching impact of war. Rippling outwards from a central crater, the crimson flowers evoke both a battlefield and a scar, offering visitors a space for quiet reflection.
You can book tickets to see the display at the Tower of London here.
