King leads two-minute silence at Remembrance Sunday service
During the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, King Charles III led the nation in a two-minute silence at 11:00 on Sunday. As part of the service to honour those who were killed in war, he laid a wreath at the monument in central London.
Services also took place in communities around the United Kingdom, including Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff. Around 10,000 veterans from the Royal British Legion marched past the Cenotaph, joined by approximately 20 Second World War veterans.
When the group of Second World War veterans passed, there was a warm reception from the crowd. Their presence has a certain poignancy now that there are so few living veterans to represent that time period.
Crowds gathered along Whitehall and around the gates of Downing Street, with children from Scout groups giving out orders of service. At the London ceremony, the King was joined by other senior royals, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as political figures, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Princess Anne, who is in Australia, attended the Anzac Memorial Service at Sydney's Anzac Memorial.
At the service, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey also laid wreaths, while Scottish First Minister John Swinney attended the Edinburgh service.
Events took place around the world to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, which is observed on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day (11th November), marking the end of the First World War in 1918. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Ahead of Sunday's activities, the Prime Minister announced that the nation would pause 'to honour all those who have served our country'. He said: 'We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service preserved the freedoms we cherish today.'
Donald Poole, a 101-year-old veteran of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps from the Burma Star Memorial Fund, attended the march at the Cenotaph service.
'It's a great honour to be able to honour the poor souls who have died in all wars,' he said. 'I'm so grateful that I am here today, thanks to all those who have fought and served, both past and present.'
On Saturday evening, the King was joined by Queen Camilla, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince George at this year's Festival of Remembrance in London's Royal Albert Hall. On the eve of Remembrance Sunday, the audience erupted in applause as the royals entered the concert hall to honour those who died in service. It was understood to be 12-year-old George's first time attending the annual festival. He sat next to his mother, Catherine.
Earlier this year, events were held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day and VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, which marked the end of the Second World War. The King and other senior royals oversaw a military parade through London, which was followed by an RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace during four days of events to celebrate VE Day.
