King leads nation in silence to honour war dead on Remembrance Sunday

The King has led the nation in a two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday to honour those who have died in conflict.

Charles was joined by members of the royal family and senior politicians at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in central London.

A gun was fired to mark the end of the silence before the Last Post was sounded by the Buglers of the Royal Marines.

Charles will lay the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War, followed by his son and other senior royals.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is also expected to lay a tribute along with other senior politicians.

Standing close to the Cenotaph were nine former prime ministers: Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Sir Keir Starmer.

About 10,000 veterans will take part in the Royal British Legion’s march-past after the service, with more than 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations represented.

People of all ages will be among those marching – from bereaved children and military cadets, through to some of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War.

A sea of poppies and military uniforms could be seen as hundreds of people lined Whitehall on Sunday morning for the service, gathering more than two hours before the ceremony.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant attended a war memorial service in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

In 1987, the event was targeted by an IRA bomb which killed 11 people on the day and a 12th victim years later, who never woke up from a coma.

In Scotland, a service attended by veterans, faith leaders and representatives of the Armed Service was held in George Square, Glasgow, with a silence at 11am followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

First Minister John Swinney led tributes at a service outside Edinburgh City Chambers.