Trafalgar Day 2026: Emotional ceremony to honour Lord Nelson and Royal Navy sailors after famous battle
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The service will honour Britain’s most famous leader and those who served alongside him
A poignant ceremony has been organised to honour those who died at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Wreaths will be laid at The Nelson Monument on Portsdown Hill to mark Trafalgar Day on October 21. The annual service takes place from 11am to commemorate commemorate the great victory by Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson in 1805, fighting against the French and Spanish navies led by Napoleon.
The Chevalier Roger Batterbury KJ, part of the Order of St Joachim, said: “I feel deeply honoured to be laying a wreath on behalf of The Order of St Joachim who conferred on Admiral Lord Nelson the award of Knight Grand Commander.
“His acceptance of the award was agreed with the King. I was brought up with stories of Nelson’s exploits and being local was a frequent visitor to HMS Victory. It is a great privilege to be laying the wreath at The Nelson Monument, and I feel part of history.”
Services have been held at The Nelson Monument for years. The 110ft tribute has stood in Monument Lane for more than 200 years. Its foundation stone was laid in 1807, only two years after Lord Nelson’s death.
The monument was created from subscriptions raised by the navy officers and men of the Fleet who served under Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. They wanted to honour him in celebration of that famous victory over the French on October 21, 1805.
Nelson’s Column in London’s Trafalgar Square was raised 30 years after the Portsdown Hill monument. This year’s service is being led by members of The Equestrian, Secular and Chapterial Order of Saint Joachim. Lord Nelson is arguably the most celebrated and recognised member of the order.
Roger Batterbury KJ has co-ordinated this year’s wreath laying ceremony with sailors from HMS Collingwood in Fareham, The 1805 Society, Royal Armouries based out of Fort Nelson and The Nelson Society. Key military figures will be in attendance, including the Naval Commander of HMS Collingwood, Base Chief Petty Officer Chris Drury and Rev Thomas James RN, the Chaplain conducting the Order of Service.