Dark events and media controversies: Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom

Dark commemorative events often have a dual role as memorials for wars and conflicts and as national days that are a focal point for celebrations of national identity. Because of this, the significance and contemporary meanings of these events are contested, and previous research has suggested that how they are designed and managed can, at times, undermine collective identities. This chapter provides a case study of one dark commemorative event, Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom. This national memorial event for the dead of all wars has a specific heritage associated with World War One and World War Two and has seen many controversies since its inception. This study accessed newspaper articles that report on these controversies using the Nexus Advanced UK database for the period 1985 to 2025. Using the news media as a lens, this study analysed and categorised relevant controversies to help understand the changing nature and meaning of this dark event. At the end of the chapter, a model of media controversies for dark commemorative events is presented, identifying one set of issues that may be associated with all events of this nature, and two more that are specific to Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom.