Poppy seller, 6, launches annual appeal

One of the country's youngest poppy sellers, six-year-old Ivy Knighton-Leake has launched the annual Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion.

Ivy, from Bradford, has been taking part in the annual fundraiser alongside her father Steve Knighton, 41, who was a member of the Royal Signals, since 2024.

At the 2026 launch in Manchester earlier, Ivy received a special poppy made from the metal of World War Two Spitfires, awarded to her by Pte Katie Brazier, 22, from the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Steve, who was supported by the the charity to adjust to life outside the military when he left the Army after six years, said he was "unbelievably proud".

"She's just amazing, she comes with me every year," he said.

"Ivy got herself involved. I showed her that I was going to be going and collecting and she saw the stalls a couple of years ago and she said, 'can I join you, can I have a poppy shop?'.

Receiving the Spitfire poppy on BBC Breakfast, Ivy said it was "really special".

Ivy said she volunteered for her dad, who is "funny, caring, kind and bad at story time".

This year's appeal focuses on armed forces families and recognising the challenges they face to support loved ones who serve.

"Being away for long periods of time is difficult. You can be on tour for six to eight months at a time, away from your family with very little contact, so it's really important that families are supported throughout that," said Steve.

First launched in 1921, this year's appeal hopes to raise more than £50m to support serving personnel, veterans and their families.

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