Royals Meghan Markle Honors Remembrance in the U.K. with This Symbolic Pin at N.Y.C. Appearance The red flower has been used primarily in the U.K. and Commonwealth since 1921 to commemorate military members who have died in war By Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit is a Royals Editor, Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 10, 2021 11:41 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Meghan Markle at the NYT DealBook Summit in November 2021. Photo: NYT DealBook Summit Meghan Markle wore a meaningful accessory ahead of Remembrance Day in the U.K. The Duchess of Sussex joined The New York Times DealBook Online Summit in New York City on Tuesday to speak about women's efforts to achieve economic and professional parity. For the appearance, she sported black slacks and a top adorned with a poppy pin. The poppy has been used since 1921 to commemorate military members who have died in war. The red flower is primarily associated with the U.K. and Commonwealth countries for Remembrance Day on November 11, though the U.S. also uses the symbol. The Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted the first nationwide distribution of remembrance poppies before Memorial Day in 1922, and the American Legion Auxiliary distributes paper poppies in exchange for donations around Memorial Day and Veterans Day. For more on Meghan Markle and other top stories, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day. Photographer Calla Kessler, who shared a portrait of Meghan on her Instagram page Tuesday, shared a comment about Meghan's poppy accessory on her account. "I asked her about the poppy. It's for Remembrance Day, to honor armed forces members," Kessler said, noting that Meghan's husband Prince Harry served in the army for 10 years. The Story Behind the Royals' 'Intimate Connection' to Remembrance Day, More Than 100 Years Later Meghan, 40, began wearing poppies at her first Anzac Day service in 2018 alongside Harry just one month before their royal wedding. Anzac Day commemorates the first major battle involving Australian and New Zealand forces during World War One. Prince Harry, 37, did not wear a poppy for his own appearance on Tuesday to speak about the spread of misinformation online, opting for a collared cotton shirt. The royal family is known for wearing poppy pins as Remembrance Day approaches and related services. Meghan Markle Justifies Her Political Engagement: 'Paid Leave ... Is a Humanitarian Issue' The poppy symbol is believed to have come from the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, a poem about World War I. The opening stanza reads: In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Chris Jackson/- WPA Pool/Getty The three official social media pages for the royal family — for Kate Middleton and Prince William, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Queen Elizabeth and other family members — changed their profile photos to reflect the somber occasion of Remembrance Day. Kate and Prince William replaced a candid shot of themselves giggling during their 2020 visit to Ireland on their Instagram and Twitter pages. In its place is a closeup of a poppy with the number 100 to mark its milestone anniversary. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton. Chris Jackson/Getty The royal family will mark Remembrance Day with a number of events this week, leading up to Remembrance Sunday on November 14. The Queen, 95, has canceled several engagements after being hospitalized on October 20 and been told to rest by doctors. However, the palace previously announced that she plans to attend Sunday's service. "It remains The Queen's firm intention to be present for the National Service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday, on 14th November," the palace said.