King Charles III and Kate attend remembrance event as both slowly return to duty

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III led the nation Sunday in a two-minute silence in remembrance of fallen service personnel in central London as the Princess of Wales looked on, a further sign that the royal family is slowly returning to normal at the end of a year in which two of the most popular royals were sidelined by cancer.

Remembrance Sunday is a totemic event in the U.K., with the monarch leading senior royals, political leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his eight living predecessors, and envoys from the Commonwealth countries in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph, the Portland stone memorial that serves as the focal point for honoring the nation’s war dead.

The service is held on the second Sunday of November to mark the signing of the armistice to end World War I “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. Across the U.K., services are conducted at the same time in memory of the dead.

After the two-minute silence, buglers from the Royal Marines played the “Last Post,” and Charles led the wreath-laying part of the service.

The 75-year-old king, dressed in his Royal Navy uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet, laid a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to World War I.

His eldest son and the heir to the throne, Prince William, left his own floral tribute — featuring the Prince of Wales’ feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.

Dressed in somber black, his wife, Kate, watched on from a balcony of the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, as is tradition. Queen Camilla, who would normally be standing next to the princess, wasn't present as she recovered from a chest infection.

It's the first time since the start of the year that Kate carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements. On Saturday, she attended the Royal British Legion Festival Of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Following the wreath-laying, around 10,000 veterans, including those who have fought in wars this century, notably in Afghanistan and Iraq, marched past the Cenotaph. With the passage of time, there were only a handful of World War II veterans present.

“It’s always a great honor to be back on occasions like this, but I remember the guys that never came home on my ship when it was torpedoed," said 99-year-old Stan Ford, who has had to walk with leg calipers ever since the ship that he was serving on — HMS Fratton — was sunk off France's Normandy coast in August 1944 at the cost of 31 lives.

“They never came home, and I always feel it’s my duty to put in an appearance and thank God for those that did survive, and to pray for the ones who didn’t," said Ford, who was one of 38 survivors.

Charles’ ceremonial role as commander in chief of the armed forces is a holdover from the days when the monarch led his troops into battle. But the link between the monarchy and the military is still very strong, with service members taking an oath of allegiance to the king and members of the royal family supporting service personnel through a variety of charities. Charles and William served on active duty in the military before taking up full-time royal duties.

Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February, forcing him to step away from public appearances for two months as he focused on his treatment and recovery. Just a few weeks later, Kate announced her own cancer diagnosis, which sidelined her for much of the year as she underwent chemotherapy.

The king has been in good form in recent months and recently completed a taxing trip to Australia and Samoa. Kate, who made her first post-diagnosis public appearance during the monarch's birthday parade in June, is slowly returning to public duties.

Prince William reflected this week on the strain that the cancer scare has placed on the royal family.

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” William told reporters on Thursday as he wrapped up a four-day trip to South Africa. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

While the Cenotaph was the focus of the national remembrance service, communities throughout the U.K. held their own ceremonies on Sunday.

Needham-Crofton, who served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers before a truck accident ended his military career, planned to attend a local service in Eastbourne on the south coast of England.

He has spent much of his time honoring veterans and trying to help them, including 20 years as a volunteer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Like some of his army tasks, raising cash was rather grueling as it involved standing in front of London subway stations collecting coins to help fund the group’s efforts.

“I like to respect all the veterans and do what I can for them," he told The Associated Press. “It’s a brotherhood really. Even if you don’t know a veteran that you meet, you feel a kinship toward them. That is very important to me. I shall be like that for the rest of my life."

From left: Britain's former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, former Prime Minister Liz Truss, leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prince William salutes after laying a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, left, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's Prince William returns to his position after laying a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's King Charles III, at centre, stands with other royals and politicians as they attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool )

Britain's King Charles III, centre, with Prince William ,left, and Princess Anne attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's King Charles III, centre, with Prince William ,left, and Princess Anne attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Front from left, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III and Anne, Princess Royal walk during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, front right, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, front left, carry wreaths, as former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, second row center, Liz Truss, second row left, and Theresa May, second row right, look on as they attend the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, front right, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, front left, carry wreaths as they attend the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool )

Britain's King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, center, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, left, attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

From left, on first row: Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince William, Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's King Charles, centre left, arrives to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

RENNES (AP) — Former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is taking over at struggling French league side Rennes.

The fiery 64-year-old is returning to French soccer following a previous stint with Marseille. Rennes said that Sampaoli signed a 1 1/2-year contract.

Sampaoli, who was in charge of Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, replaces Julien Stephan, who was dismissed last week.

“The situation is not ideal and it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Sampaoli said on Tuesday. “Neither the city, nor the club, nor the fans, nor the shareholders deserve this situation. This is a new stage that will require a lot of work. I accepted the offer because Stade Rennais FC is a great club.”

Rennes is looking for a jolt after a mediocre spell that saw the team slump to 13th place in the standings, 18 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain after 11 matches, and just one point above the relegation playoffs.

“He is a coach who is recognized internationally for his professionalism and humanism,” said Arnaud Pouille, the executive chairman and managing director at Rennes. “He has a strong attachment to his players and staff, and is a loyal and committed man. We need his energy to get the club moving again and to face the competition with determination.”

The much-traveled Sampaoli has also coached clubs in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain and Brazil. He became Rennes’ first foreign coach in 18 years, according to the French league.

Sampaoli abruptly left Marseille in July 2022 after leading the team back to the Champions League, over a disagreement related to the club's transfers of players.

Sampaoli's first match in charge following the international break will be against fourth-place Lille on Nov. 24.

“We will first need to make sure that the team finds its confidence back,” said Sampaoli, who attended Rennes's 2-0 loss against Toulouse on Sunday.

“This weekend, with the change of coach, I saw a team in transition," he said. "I think that with a new method and new ideas we will be able to find a diagnosis that will help us improve the situation and boost the players' morale.”

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FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )