A parade of 10,000 veterans, Whitehall lined with hundreds of military personnel, and the royals uniting for poignant moment of remembrance: How the nation fell silent as the King led tribute’s to the fallen at the Cenotaph

King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak led Britain in honouring the country’s war dead today as a parade of thousands of veterans lined Whitehall for poignant moment of remembrance.

At a solemn ceremony at the war memorial in central London, the King, Prime Minister, the royal family and senior politicians held a two-minute silence at 11am to honour those killed in war. Charles, along with Mr Sunak and opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, laid wreaths on the Cenotaph shortly after the nation fell silent.

Almost 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph memorial in central London, while thousands more members of the public gathered in tribute to British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who have died in battle. 

More than 300 armed forces and civilian organisations are represented, as well as 300 veterans not affiliated with an association who have been invited to join for the first time. Marchers included 100-year-old Second World War veterans and children of servicemen and women who have died in conflict.

Remembrance Sunday is an annual commemoration held on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day, November 11, the anniversary of the end of the First World War to remember servicemen and women who have fallen in the line of duty since WWI.

This year’s service comes after the march on Armistice Day saw hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters march through London calling for a ceasefire in Israel‘s war in Gaza. The march went ahead after a week of tensions, which saw the Government call for it to be scrapped and police make scores of arrests.

King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires volley to start ceremony 

A volley from a gun fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from nearby Horse Guards Parade rang out at 11am today to signal the start of the moment of silent reflection. Another loud blast was fired two minutes later to marked its end.

Royal Gun Salutes are used to mark special royal occasions, such as Remembrance Day.

The number of rounds fired in a Royal Gun Salute is dependent on the location of and occasion for the salute, according to the Royal Parks service.

A basic salute is 21 rounds, however salutes held in Hyde Park and The Green Park have an extra 20 rounds because they are a Royal Park.

Salutes are traditionally not held on Sundays. So, in most instances, if the date of an event featuring a Royal Gun Salute falls on a Sunday, the salute will take place the following day.

Royal Marine buglers play The Last Post

The Royal Marines Band Service performed The Last Post to mark the end of the two-minute silence during the Remembrance Day service today.

The Last Post is played at remembrance services across the UK including at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. The musical call is usually played on a trumpet, cornet or bugle. There are only three notes used in the entirety of the piece.

The Last Post, now associated with remembrance ceremonies, was originally used on the frontlines as a signal that the final sentry post in a military camp had been inspected and the area was secure.

The call was also sounded at the end of a battle so soldiers on the battlefield would know it was safe to move or retreat back to their troops to get help.

The battle signal was elongated during the 19th century, making it ‘more mournful and appropriate’ for remembrance ceremonies.

Buglers perform the famous tune on Remembrance Day across the Commonwealth, at Commonwealth Military Funerals and on Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand.

King Charles lays first wreath at the Cenotaph

The King led the country at the Whitehall memorial in commemorating the end of the First World War and other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces by laying the first wreath.

Wreaths were also laid by members of the royal family, senior politicians and dignitaries at the Cenotaph in London. 

Wearing the uniform of The Marshal of the Royal Air Force with greatcoat, poppy and sword, Charles laid a wreath similar to the one produced for King George VI. 

The wreath features 41 open style poppy petals made from bonded fabric, hard-wearing paper.

It is mounted on an arrangement of black leaves – traditional for sovereign’s wreaths – of 27-inch diameter ribbon and bow using the colours from The King’s racing silk – scarlet, purple and gold, Buckingham Palace said.

The Prince of Wales also laid a wreath, as did the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other senior politicians.

Major Ollie Plunket of The Rifles, equerry to Camilla, laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen, who was watching from a balcony with the Princess of Wales. Buckingham Palace said said the Queen’s wreath closely resembled the one produced for the Queen Mother.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal also laid wreaths at the Cenotaph.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among senior politicians who laid a wreath at the Cenotaph. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman also took part in the ceremony. 

Bishop of London leads Britain in song and prayer 

Following the laying of the main wreaths, the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, led a short service featuring a hymn and the Lord’s Prayer.

She told those gathered: ‘O Almighty God, grant, we beseech thee, that we who here do honour to the memory of those who have died in the service of their country and of the Crown may be so inspired by the spirit of their love and fortitude that, forgetting all selfish and unworthy motives, we may live only to thy glory and to the service of mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

The King and members of the royal family then sang the hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past as thousands filled Whitehall. The hymn was accompanied by the Bands of the Guards Division.

Following the hymnal, the Bishop offered another prayer, saying: ‘Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

All attendees were then requested to say The Lord’s Prayer which was followed by a blessing by Dame Sarah. 

Ceremony concludes with the singing of the national anthem 

The national anthem, God Save The King, echoed across Whitehall today as the Remembrance Sunday service comes to an end. 

The royals, Britain’s politicians, military members and bystanders alike all joined in singing the song.

But Stephen Flynn, leader of SNP in the House of Commons, failed to sing a note of the anthem despite everyone around him having done so. 

He also placed his wreath upside down on the Cenotaph during the laying of the wreaths.

The British national anthem in its present form dates back to the 18th century.

The anthem became popular amid the patriotism that followed the 1745 victory of Prince Charles Edward Stuart over King George II’s army in Scotland.

After hearing the news of Prince Charles’ success in the battle, the leader of the band at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, arranged God Save The King for a performance after the play. It was repeated nightly after that.

Usually, only the first verse is sung, which is: ‘God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King! God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King.’ 

There is no authorised version of the National Anthem as the words are a matter of tradition. Additional verses have been added down the years, but these are rarely used.