Charity accused of trying to 'hijack' Remembrance Day after calling for it to be 'decolonised' instead of 'glorifying' the British Empire

A charity urging people to wear white rather than red poppies has been accused of attempting to 'hijack' Remembrance Sunday after calling for the occasion to be 'decolonised' and not 'glorify' the British Empire. Remembrance Sunday today involves a veterans' parade along Whitehall past the Cenotaph in central London - pictured here is last year's event Red poppies have been sold on behalf of the Royal British Legion since 1922, with white poppies - symbolising a commitment to peace - introduced 11 years later Col Richard Kemp, who led British forces in Afghanistan in 2003, has criticised the Peace Pledge Union over its new statement calling for Remembrance Sunday to be 'decolonised' Col Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, told PPU activists: 'Do it on a different day.' Medals are pinned to the chest of a veteran of the Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland on the day of the National Service of Remembrance, in London today A brass band is pictured here playing to commuters at Waterloo station in London at the launch of this year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal on October 31 The Princess of Wales, pictured with her husband the Prince of Wales, is seen attending last night's Festival of Remembrance ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall 'It is a diversion from some of the benefits of Remembrance Sunday.' The annual festival at the Royal Albert Hall honoured the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel, past and present Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge has said he would 'be proud to wear the traditional red poppy because we must never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives' The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal last year raised £49.2million for members in need of the armed forces and this year has a target of generating £53.1million The Princess of Wales, pictured with her husband William at last night's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, is expected to watch today's Cenotaph ceremony The organisation's website says: 'At a national level, any profits from white poppy sales go towards promoting peaceful alternatives to war, campaigning against militarism and our peace education work. The King attended last night's Royal Albert Hall event alongside his sister Princess Anne Also there, wearing a red poppy, was the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer A band is seen performing at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall last night Red poppy images have been beamed on to a cooling tower at the Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire Camilla, 77, pulled out of an Olympic and Paralympic reception at the Palace and the opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey earlier this week after developing the seasonal respiratory bug following her long-haul tour to Australia and Samoa and spa break in India.