Queen of England and The Royal Family pay their respects to the fallen as Prince Philip comes out of retirement but William and Harry opt to watch the rugby (Details, pics)

The Queen lead senior members of the royal family at an event to honour the British soldiers who died in World War One on Saturday while Princes William and Harry enjoyed a day out at the rugby. The Royals were joined by Prime Minister Theresa May at the Festival of Remembrance, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The event, presented by Huw Edwards, included performances from Emeli Sande, Tom Odell, Melanie C, Alfie Boe and Lesley Garrett alongside The Queen’s Colour Squadron and The Band of HM Royal Marines. But despite the importance of honouring those who have lost their lives, the Duke of Cambridge was not in attendance after spending the day watching Wales play against Australia in Cardiff.

Prince Harry was also noticeably absent after he watched England play Argentina in Twickenham. Although the absence of William and Harry had caused some criticism, Royal sources stressed both were on official engagements as they are patrons of the Welsh and English Rugby Unions respectively.

Before kick off at 3pm, Prince Harry arrived in south west London with Rugby Football Union president John Spencer. Despite their rusty start, England staggered to a fourth rugby victory over Argentina much to the Prince's delight - winning 21-8 thanks to tries by Nathan Hughes and Semesa Rokoduguni.

He met with volunteers of the Commonwealth War Grave Commission, which was the official match-day charity at the England game, before taking his seat in the crowd.

Prince Harry also gave a helping hand at the end of the tense match by placing medals around the players' necks. Over at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Prince William met with the beneficiaries of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, which supports players who have been injured playing football and rugby in Wales, before a 5pm kick off.

He appeared relaxed as comfortable as he spoke to recipients of the charity Owen Williams, Wyn Francis and Gareth Moyle. But as he took his place in the stand, the Prince looked tense.

The Welsh team are notoriously slow starters, which contrasts with their performances at the last two World Cups when they were semi-finalists (2011) and quarter-finalists (2015).

During half time, the Prince met with WRU Coach Core Apprentices, who are learning to be role models and mentors in their communities and is a scheme designed by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. 

But unfortunately for Wales, Australia fed off their errors and gained a 29-21 victory. The Duke of Cambridge spoke at a dinner for veterans at the Imperial War Museum in London, and Prince Harry placed a small wooden cross among hundreds of others at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

Earlier this week, the Princes marked Remembrance Day with their own events.

Prince William will be at Sunday's ceremony at the Cenotaph for, commemorating the 99th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Elsewhere, millions fell silent as Big Ben tolled for the first time in months to chime the stroke of 11am on Armistice Day.

Parliament’s clock tower, which has been closed down for repairs since August, marked the beginning of the two-minute silence.

Prince Charles is also set to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph while the Queen looks on. This will be the first time since she came to the throne in 1952 that she has attended the event but has not laid the wreath.

It was announced yesterday that scores of bell ringers will be recruited to help commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War in 2018.

Bells will ring out in unison from churches and cathedrals in villages, towns and cities across the country on November 11 next year, as they did spontaneously when the Great War ended.