Lest we forget: The nation falls silent to remember the fallen on Armistice Day
The nation falls on silent on Armistice Day
The UK has commemorated Armistice Day with a series of events around the country, including at the Cenotaph, Edinburgh, and Windsor Castle.
The Queen laid a wreath at Paddington Station to honour and remember Armed Forces personnel who have served and made sacrifices for the country after a two-minute silence was observed at 11:00.
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales led a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire.
The NMA's poet in residence, Arji Manuelpillai, performed a specially commissioned poem during the service, reflecting on the importance of personal connections, experiences, and bonds formed through military service.
After the service finished, the Princess of Wales viewed the newly dedicated names on the Armed Forces Memorial before she met veterans attending the service.
Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph
A view of wreaths of poppies during the Western Front Association's Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph (Picture: PA)
In central London, there was a Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph to honour the courage and comradeship of those who served during the Great War from 1914 to 1918, along with a moment of reflection at 11:00.
Defence Secretary John Healey laid a wreath at the memorial.
Among the thousands who gathered were people of all ages who had travelled from across the country, and some from across the world; many veterans were amongst them, wearing their medals, as well as representatives from all three services.
The service included a reading of Rupert Brooke's poem The Soldier.
Armistice Day commemorated in Scotland
Crowds amassed in the heart of Edinburgh for a service in the Garden of Remembrance beside the Scott Monument
Veterans gathered in Edinburgh to pay their respects as the nation paused to remember the fallen.
Crowds amassed in the pouring rain in the heart of Edinburgh for a service in the Garden of Remembrance beside the Scott Monument.
The capital's Lord Provost, the Royal British Legion Scotland, and veterans' associations laid wreaths during the service.
A piper from George Heriot's School performed a lament before the One O'Clock Gun was fired from Edinburgh Castle to mark 11:00.
Army veteran Tommy Graham played the Last Post as people observed the traditional silence.
Similar services were held in towns and cities across the country to remember those who died in the line of duty.
King and Queen veterans' reception
Queen Camilla heads to Paddington station to mark Armistice Day
Earlier in the day, Queen Camilla travelled to London's Paddington railway station as part of the Great Western Railway 'Poppies to Paddington' event to mark Armistice Day.
At Windsor Castle, the King and Queen hosted a reception for veterans who served in the Pacific during the Second World War, and their families, in honour of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.
During the reception, the members of the royal family were able to view a photographic display by the Royal British Legion, 'Through Their Eyes', which captures the spirit of the Second World War generation.
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Gloucester also attended the event.
Additional reporting by David Sivills-McCann, Sofie Cacoyannis, and Sian Grzeszczyk Melbourne.
The Princess of Wales attends the Service of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Picture: PA)The Service of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Picture: PA)The wall of names on the Armed Forces Memorial ahead of the Service of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Picture: PA)Poppies adorn the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Picture: PA)The Armed Forces Memorial ahead of the Service of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Picture: PA)Queen Camilla at London Paddington train station as part of the Great Western Railway 'Poppies to Paddington' event to mark Armistice Day (Picture: PA)Queen Camilla's wreath travels by train from Chippenham in Wiltshire to London Paddington, as part of the Great Western Railway 'Poppies to Paddington' event to mark Armistice Day (Picture: PA)Members of the UK Armed Forces during the Western Front Association's Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London (Picture: PA)Members of the 1914 Sikhs Ceremonial Marching Troop during the Western Front Association's Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London (Picture: PA)A view of wreaths of poppies during the Western Front Association's Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London (Picture: PA)Tri-service personnel attend the Armistice Day service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall (Picture: MOD)Tri-service personnel attend the Armistice Day service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall (Picture: MOD)A Coldstream Guards Warrant Officer ensures Army and Sea Cadets form up correctly at the Cenotaph (Picture: MOD)Veterans during the Armistice Day event in the Garden of Remembrance at the Scott Monument, in Princes St Gardens, Edinburgh (Picture: PA)Crowds gather in the rain at the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance to mark Armistice DayVeterans line up with the King, Queen, Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh at a veterans reception at Windsor Castle for veterans who served in Pacific during WW2 (Picture: PA)Queen Camilla and veteran Henry Rice at a reception for veterans who served in the Pacific during WW2, part of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA)The Prince of Wales at a reception for veterans who served in the Pacific during the Second World War, part of the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA)King Charles at reception for veterans who served in Pacific during WW2, part of the commemorations marking 80th anniversary of VJ Day, at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA)
