The red poppy will be used to remember civilians of war and terror victims for the first time, the Royal British Legion has said.

In a break with a 98-year-tradition, this year’s Remembrance Day will not be a commemoration solely for fallen British and allied armed forces personnel.

The Royal British Legion said it was a necessary step to ensure Remembrance is “inclusive of all modern Britain”.

The charity has quietly changed the language on its website, which previously stated that the poppy relates “to the armed forces community specifically, but not exclusively, and acknowledges the wider impact of conflict”.

The website now defines Remembrance Day as acknowledging “the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth and the “innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism”.

Robert Lee, the charity’s assistant director of remembrance, confirmed that it had adapted its position ahead of next week’s launch of its annual poppy appeal to reflect shifting public opinion, particularly after the spate of terrorist attacks in the UK in 2017.