Queen Camilla keeps Remembrance on track with 'Poppies to Paddington' tribute

Queen Camilla hopped aboard a touching tradition on Tuesday, taking part in Great Western Railway’s annual “Poppies to Paddington” tribute in Chippenham ahead of attending the Booker Prize reception.

The touching tradition, launched during the 2020 lockdown, sees more than 250 wreaths carried aboard ten GWR services from across the network, delivered by veterans, railway staff, and schoolchildren. 

This year, Camilla joined pupils from Monckton Primary School, who proudly presented her with a wreath made entirely of crocheted poppies that took six weeks and, for many, their first ever attempt at the craft.

Dressed in deep green and her signature black accessories, she leaned in to admire a handmade poppy wreath presented by eager pupils and even earned the attention of a friendly four legged bystander.

“Did you knit this? Crocheted? Well that’s very impressive,” the Queen quipped, admitting with a grin, “I was never very good at that or knitting for that matter.”

She added that her own poppy, pinned neatly to her dress crafted from wool spun from the King’s sheep at Sandringham.

As her train approached, Camilla glanced up and smiled, “Oh good, it’s on time.” The moment drew chuckles from the platform and perfectly captured her mix of warmth and wit.

The Queen’s carriage, named “Odette Hallowes GC MBE” after the legendary WWII heroine and British spy, made several stops en route, collecting wreaths from local dignitaries, before arriving at Paddington Station at 10:44 a.m. 

There, Camilla led a poignant remembrance service on Platform 1, where the wreaths formed a striking tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes.