King Charles III led the nation in honouring Britain's war dead on Remembrance Sunday, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in central London. Prince William and Prince Edward joined the monarch at the solemn ceremony, which marked the 107th anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey laid wreaths alongside the royal family. Thousands of veterans, serving military personnel, and members of the public gathered at the war memorial in Whitehall as the nation observed a two-minute silence at 11:00.
Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales watched the ceremony from a balcony overlooking the Cenotaph. Among the attendees were World War II veterans, including 101-year-old Sid Machin, a surviving Chindit soldier from the Burma campaign, and veterans who landed in Normandy days after D-Day.
Northern Ireland marks historic ceremony
In Belfast, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly laid wreaths at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall. O'Neill's participation marks a significant moment for Sinn Féin's engagement with traditional remembrance ceremonies in Northern Ireland. Her wreath carried a message: "Today, as First Minister, I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict." She added: "Through understanding and respect for our differences, we can build a stronger, more compassionate, and united society."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended a separate service at the war memorial in Enniskillen, laying a wreath "in remembrance on behalf of the Irish Government." The ceremony marked the 38th anniversary of an IRA bomb attack that killed 11 people before a Remembrance Day service in the town in 1987.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
