Prince Charles And Boris Johnson Join Unknown Warrior Centenary Service

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have joined others in observing a two-minute silence on Armistice Day, as they marked the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior.

They joined a socially-distanced congregation at Westminster Abbey for a service marking 100 years to the day since the body of the unidentified serviceman was laid to rest.

Among the other guests were Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and leading figures from the Armed Forces.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage wrote a poem to mark the 100th anniversary of the Unknown Warrior's burial.

'The Bed' was read during the service at Westminster Abbey.

The poem charts how the fallen soldier is transported from being "broken and sleeping rough in a dirt grave" to being buried "among drowsing poets and dozing saints" in Westminster Abbey.

Last week, Her Majesty the Queen attended a small private ceremony at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the soldier's burial.

Who is the Unknown Warrior?

The Unknown Warrior is a British soldier who was killed during World War One and whose remains were selected for burial at Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day 1920, where the tomb remains to this day.

The soldier's identity is unknown, and his tomb is designed to represent all those who lost their lives during the First World War either without a known place of death or identified remains.

On 11 November 1920, Armistice Day, the Unknown Warrior was taken past the then-newly unveiled Cenotaph, before being taken to Westminster Abbey.

It was there where the coffin was lowered into the grave.

The Unknown Warrior's tomb has been at Westminster Abbey ever since.

Cover image: PA.