Emotional King Charles leads impeccable Remembrance Sunday two-minute silence with Prince William, Kate, Queen Camilla, Edward and teary-eyed Sophie

The Royal Family today led the nation in a two-minute silence on Remembrance Day to commemorate those who died in conflict.

King Charles appeared visibly emotional as he laid a wreath at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, where he was joined by other senior royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The monarch, 76, approached the war memorial just before 11am and saluted. After the Big Ben bells chimed on the hour, a two-minute silence was perfectly observed before a gun was fired and the Last Post was sounded by the Buglers of the Royal Marines to mark the end.

Charles, wearing a field marshal uniform with a ceremonial frock coat, then stepped forward and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph before saluting again. 

Prince William, wearing his RAF uniform in the rank of wing commander with a greatcoat, poppy and sword, and Prince Edward followed shortly after the King, similarly laying wreaths and saluting.

Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales, both dressed in black, sang the national anthem as they watched the service from the centre balcony of the Foreign Office above the Cenotaph. 

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, appeared teary-eyed as she watched the service from the left balcony alongside the Duke of Kent, 90, who gave a firm salute as the service began. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester watched on from the right balcony.

Prime Ministers past and present, including David Cameron, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, also paid their respects as they lined up together in front of the Cenotaph. Party leaders Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch stood in front of them holding wreaths.

Senior politicians and members of the Royal Family departed after laying wreaths so the thousands of veterans could start their march-past.

Some 10,000 armed forces veterans are taking part in the Royal British Legion’s march-past through Whitehall, alongside about 20 Second World War veterans.

Services are also taking place across the country to honour the fallen, with this year’s Armistice Day marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. 

Ahead of the two-minute silence at 11am, military bands had performed songs including Rule Britannia as crowds watched on along Whitehall.

Last night, Charles appeared visibly moved by a heartfelt rendition of God Save the King at the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance. 

The monarch, who was announced as a patron of the Royal British Legion last year, was then treated to three cheers from the Armed Forces at the Royal Albert Hall.

It was also a memorable night for Prince George who made his debut at the Festival of Remembrance alongside his mother, the Princess of Wales. George was effectively standing in for his father, Prince William, who was travelling back from his Earthshot Prize Awards and the COP30 summit in Brazil.

Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder and Keala Settle also attended last night’s event, where there were performances by the Central Band of the RAF, the RAF Squadronaires and the Band of HM Royal Marines. 

Ahead of today’s commemorations, the Prime Minister said: ‘This Remembrance Sunday, we pause as a nation to honour all those who have served our country.

‘We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.

‘Eighty years since the end of the Second World War, we remember a generation who stood against tyranny and shaped our future. Their legacy is peace and our duty is to protect it.

‘Such sacrifice deserves more than silence, which is why this Government remains committed to supporting veterans, their families and those who serve.

‘Today, we remember, and we renew our promise to uphold the values they fought for.’

Among those on the march is 101-year-old Donald Poole, a Royal Army Ordnance Corps technician who handled defective explosives or enemy ammunition.

Originally from Bromley, Kent, he was serving in India in 1945 when Japan’s surrender was announced, sparking an impromptu celebration.

He said: ‘It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present.

‘I also want to pay tribute to the civilian services who suffered during the Second World War, particularly the fire service, who saved so many lives during the Blitz – many of whom lost their own.’

Sid Machin, another of the six 101-year-olds registered to march, is one of the last surviving ‘Chindit’ soldiers from the Second World War’s Burma campaign.

As a young man of about 19, Mr Machin landed behind enemy lines in a glider at night in the jungle, as part of a special forces unit in Burma (now Myanmar), which wreaked havoc on Japanese supply lines and infrastructure.

Mr Machin, from Dorset, said: ‘I am proud to be marching at the Cenotaph today with the Chindit Society to mark the end of an emotional year remembering my own and my comrades service in the Far East.

‘It was tough but we just had to get on with it and watch out for each other. I will be thinking of everyone I served with and especially those that didn’t make it home.’

Eileen Marshall, 98, is one of just three female Second World War veterans expected to march at the Cenotaph this year.

Ms Marshall, from Ilkley in West Yorkshire, left home in 1944 aged 17 to join the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS).

After initial training, she was drafted to HMS Ganges, where her role involved looking after the officers’ quarters.

She said: ‘Serving in the WRNS was one of the happiest times of my life, but also one of the saddest, especially when sailors were lost at sea, including my cousin.

‘On Remembrance Sunday, I will be marching with the HMS Ganges Association to honour all those who gave their lives, including my husband Ray, who served with the Highland Regiment and passed away in 1994. I will proudly wear his medals as I remember him and all the fallen.’

The two-minute silence took place at 11am on Sunday, with the march starting at 11.25am.

Thousands of people are expected to line Whitehall to pay tribute.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said: ‘From the Cenotaph in London to memorials in towns and villages across the United Kingdom, and wherever our armed forces serve around the world, we pause to remember their courage, their sacrifice and their enduring legacy.

‘We shall remember them.’

Philippa Rawlinson, director of remembrance at the Royal British Legion, said: ‘As we come together on Remembrance Sunday, we not only pay tribute to them but to all those who have bravely defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

‘From risking their lives in warzones to spending time away from their families, and providing vital support during emergencies and humanitarian disasters, the dedication of our armed forces community is extraordinary.

‘We encourage the nation to pause, reflect and remember their service and sacrifice.’