Royal family leads the nation in Remembrance Day service

10 November 2019, 09:17

The Royal Family led the nation in paying respects to its war dead at the traditional wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

Political leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, took a break from election campaigning to attend the service at the memorial on Whitehall in central London.

Last night the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reunited for the first time at a Remembrance event following a documentary which revealed the emotional struggles that Meghan Markle is facing, with Prince Harry saying he and his brother were “on different paths.”

The royal couples sat with the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who had to pull out of events earlier this week because of a chest infection.

The family sat in the royal box at the annual Festival of Remembrance - a service which pays tribute to all those who lost in their lives in conflicts - on Saturday evening.

Hundreds of armed forces personnel attended the Cenotaph serivce today, alongside Cabinet ministers, religious leaders and representatives of Commonwealth nations.

As Big Ben struck 11am, a two minutes silence was observed, with its beginning and end marked by the firing of a gun by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

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Buglers of the Royal Marines sounded the Last Post before wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph by members of the royal family, politicians, foreign representatives and senior armed forces personnel.

The Prince of Wales laid the first wreath on behalf of the Queen, who watched the service from a nearby balcony.

An equerry laid a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh who is not expected to be present after retiring from royal duties two years ago.

The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex followed their father in laying wreaths, while their wives will also watch the ceremony from balconies.

Five former prime ministers - Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May - are also due to be in attendance.

After wreaths were laid, the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, led a service of remembrance which will end with trumpeters of the Royal Air Force sounding Rouse (Reveille).

Following the ceremony, thousands of veterans and servicemen and women will march past the Cenotaph to pay their respects to those killed in past and present conflicts.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Battle of Kohima in India, the Battle of Arnhem in the Netherlands and the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.

In a video released on his Twitter account before the ceremony, Mr Corbyn paid tribute to the work of the Armed Forces both current and throughout history.

He said: "We remember the many brave people from Britain and all across the world who put their lives on the line making huge sacrifices in two world wars which cost the lives of millions, and in all other conflicts since.

"And we stand together to say: Never again."