Sea of poppies at the Tower of London | CNN

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Sea of poppies at the Tower of London

Updated 2:10 PM EST, Fri November 7, 2014
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More than four million people -- 60,000 to 70,000 a day -- are expected to visit the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpoppies.hrp.org.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red</a> installation at the Tower of London.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
More than four million people -- 60,000 to 70,000 a day -- are expected to visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London.
Carl Court/Getty Images
The evolving artwork, by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paulcumminsceramics.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">ceramic artist Paul Cummins</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tompiperdesign.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">theater designer Tom Piper</a>, is made up of 888,246 ceramic poppies.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
The evolving artwork, by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and theater designer Tom Piper, is made up of 888,246 ceramic poppies.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Each of the blooms commemorates one of the British and Colonial soldiers who died in World War I.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
Each of the blooms commemorates one of the British and Colonial soldiers who died in World War I.
Chris Jackson/WPA Pool /Getty Images
The poppies are unique -- each one is individually handcrafted by a team of artists and volunteers.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
The poppies are unique -- each one is individually handcrafted by a team of artists and volunteers.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
The first was "planted" in the moat of the Tower of London by Crawford Butler, the longest serving Yeoman Warder at the Tower, on July 17, 2014.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
The first was "planted" in the moat of the Tower of London by Crawford Butler, the longest serving Yeoman Warder at the Tower, on July 17, 2014.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Since then, an army of more than 16,000 volunteers has worked to install hundreds of thousands more, gradually "flooding" the dry moat with a blood red tide.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
Since then, an army of more than 16,000 volunteers has worked to install hundreds of thousands more, gradually "flooding" the dry moat with a blood red tide.
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II visited the installation with the Duke of Edinburgh on October 16, 2014.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
Queen Elizabeth II visited the installation with the Duke of Edinburgh on October 16, 2014.
And Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge planted a poppy when she visited with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in the summer.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
And Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge planted a poppy when she visited with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in the summer.
John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The display is due to end on November 11 -- Armistice Day -- when the final poppy is planted shortly before 11am.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
The display is due to end on November 11 -- Armistice Day -- when the final poppy is planted shortly before 11am.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
To mark the final addition, a lone bugler will play the Last Post, and two minutes' silence will be observed.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
To mark the final addition, a lone bugler will play the Last Post, and two minutes' silence will be observed.
Chris Jackson - WPA Pool /Getty Images
The following day, more volunteers will arrive to start "picking" the flowers, which will then be checked, cleaned and shipped off to their new owners.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
The following day, more volunteers will arrive to start "picking" the flowers, which will then be checked, cleaned and shipped off to their new owners.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Each of the flowers has been sold -- for £25 (about $40) -- to benefit charities working with armed services personnel and veterans.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
Each of the flowers has been sold -- for £25 (about $40) -- to benefit charities working with armed services personnel and veterans.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
British Prime Minister David Cameron this week praised all of those involved in the "extraordinary project" at the Tower of London.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
British Prime Minister David Cameron this week praised all of those involved in the "extraordinary project" at the Tower of London.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Visitor numbers on the final weekend of the exhibition are expected to be huge, and the Mayor of London has called for the poppies to be kept in place for longer.
Sea of poppies at the Tower of London —
Visitor numbers on the final weekend of the exhibition are expected to be huge, and the Mayor of London has called for the poppies to be kept in place for longer.
Carl Court/Getty Images
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