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HomeTOP TRENDSKing leads two-minute silence at Remembrance Sunday service

King leads two-minute silence at Remembrance Sunday service

King leads two-minute silence at Remembrance Sunday service

42 minutes ago

Amy Walker and
Sean Coughlan,royal correspondent

King Charles III led the nation in a two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT on Sunday during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.

He laid a wreath at the monument in central London as part of the service to remember those who died in conflict.

Servicesalso took place in communities across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

Some 10,000 armed forces veterans took part in the Royal British Legion’s march-past through Whitehall, alongside around 20 World War Two veterans.

Ahead of the ceremony on Sunday morning, there was a warm applause from the crowd when a group of the World War Two veterans arrived on Whitehall.

Their presence carries some poignancy now there are such small numbers of surviving veterans to represent that generation.

PA Media Three World War Two veterans, wearing medals and berets, are pushed along Whitehall in wheelchairsPA Media

Crowds gathered along Whitehall and around the gates of Downing Street, with children from Scout groups handing out orders of service.

The King was joined by other senior royals, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh,and political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at the London ceremony.

Princess Anne is in Australia and attended a remembrance service at the Anzac Memorial on Sydney.

Reuters King Charles, wearing a ceremonial frock coat, places a large poppy wreath which is wrapped in a ribbon on the CenotaphReuters

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey also laid wreaths at the ceremony, while Scottish First Minister John Swinney attended the Edinburgh service.

Events took place around the country to mark Remembrance Sunday, which is observed on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on 11 November – when World War One ended in 1918.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

Getty Images Prince William and Prince Edward stand behind the King during the ceremonyGetty Images

Ahead of Sunday’s events,the prime minister said the nation would pause “to honour all those who have served our country”.

“We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.”

Getty Images Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds his wreath as former prime ministers David Cameron (back L) and Gordon Brown (back R).Getty Images

Donald Poole, a 101-year-old who is a veteran of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, joined the march at the Cenotaph service with the Burma Star Memorial Fund.

“It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts, and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present,” he said.

PA Media Queen Camilla, wearing a broad-brimmed black hat with a black fur trim and a black jacket embellished with three red poppies, stands next to the Princess of Wales who wears a sculptured black hat, a black jacket and black lace scarf, with a silk red poppy on her lapelPA Media

On Saturday evening, the King was joined by Prince George, Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at this year’s Festival of Remembrance in London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The audience stood and a fanfare played as the royals entered the concert hall to commemorate those who lost their lives in service, on the eve of Remembrance Sunday.

It was believed to be 12-year-old George’s first time attending the annual concert. He sat next to his mother, Catherine.

Earlier this year, events were held to commemorate to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, and VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, which took place at the end of World War Two.

During four days of events to commemorate VE Day, the King and other senior royals, oversaw a military procession through London which was followed by an RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace.

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