Duke and Duchess of Cambridge light candle and leave flowers as they remember COVID victims
Watch: Prince William and Kate visit COVID vaccination centre
Prince William and his wife Kate lit a candle and laid daffodils to remember those who have died of coronavirus as they joined the national day of reflection.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Westminster Abbey, where they were married nearly 10 years ago, to thank those involved in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and remember those who died.
The abbey is now a vaccine hub, with a markedly different interior to on their wedding day in April 2011.
It was the couple's first visit there since last year's Commonwealth Day service, which was Prince Harry and Meghan's last engagement as senior royals.
Kate, 39, brought daffodils to lay at the abbey, while William, 38, lit a candle as they took a moment to reflect on the past year.
They held a minute's silence at midday in the abbey’s Shrine of St Edward the Confessor.
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The royals were joined by the Dean of Westminster the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle. He then led a series of short prayers.
Kate wore a cream embroidered Catherine Walker coat, and William had on a smart suit and tie.
The NHS opened the clinic in the abbey to provide 2,000 jabs a week to residents in Westminster.
Although it's a vaccine hub, the abbey is still able to run its daily Communion service.
The visit from the duke and duchess came as the country marked one year since the first national lockdown, with 23 March becoming a day of reflection.
A national minute's silence was held, and William's grandmother, the Queen, sent flowers to St Barts in London, where Prince Philip was treated earlier this month for a heart condition.
On the National #DayofReflection, one year since the first lockdown in the UK, The Duke and Duchess took part in a moment of reflection at Westminster Abbey.
Today we remember all those who have lost their lives as a result of the pandemic over the last twelve months. pic.twitter.com/cvNGSyjr6h— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2021
Read more: Queen sends flowers to NHS hospital where Philip was treated as she marks one year of lockdown
The Queen, 94, and Philip, 99, have both had their first coronavirus vaccines, as have Prince Charles and Camilla, who are in their 70s.
William and Kate are likely to have to wait a few more months for their turn.
Chatting to one of the teams, William said: "I’m a while away yet until I get mine. But you’re getting there pretty fast so it won’t be long.
He added: “I’ve had plenty of vaccinations in my time. I get jabbed a lot.”
Speaking to Sandy Thwaites, a former nurse who came out of retirement to help with the rollout, Kate asked: "Is there much trepidation beforehand?”
Ms Thwaites said afterwards: “She asked if the public were finding it difficult, whether they were anxious.
“I said they are quite anxious, a lot of questions especially concerning clots.
“They come armed with quite a lot of questions. Some are crying, some are relieved, some are happy. But no-one has turned away.”
The Cambridges moved back down to London in early March, having been in Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home during the Christmas period and following lockdown.
