Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh paid tribute to those who have fallen during World War I in a visit to the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red Poppy installation at the Tower of London to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War.

 The Queen and Prince Philip walked amongst 888,256 poppies, each flower representing a British or Commonwealth soldier who died during the war.

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 Ceramic artist Paul Cummins was the creative genius behind the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.  He met with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit.

 "I was inspired to create this installation after reading a living will by an unknown soldier who we think may have been from Derby," he said when asked what inspired him to create the hundreds of thousands of ceramic flowers.

 Cummins visualized the Tower "as the ideal setting" for the field because of its strong military links in the past.

 "The installation is transient, I found this poignant and reflective of human life, like those who lost their lives during the First World War. I wanted to find a fitting way to remember them."

 Together with Cummins were stage designer Tom Piper and over 8,000 volunteers who planted the flowers.

 The Tower's Constable, General the Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, and Colonel Richard Harrold, Governor of the ancient fortress met the Queen and Prince Philip as they enter the tower.  The next event was a ceremony that invoked a tradition that originated centuries past. The constable and governor surrendered their ceremonial keys of office to the Queen. Her Majessty then touched the symbolic objects.

 The Queen and Duke walked through the poppy field. They proceeded to a small mound where Yeoman Warder Jim Duncan was waiting them, presenting Her Majesty with a royal wreath. The Queen touched it and was carefully placed on a small mound by the Yeoman Warder.

TagsQueen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip