King Charles III led the nation in a solemn act of remembrance this Sunday in London, honouring those who have lost their lives in conflict. Under a grey autumn sky, the King stood before the Cenotaph in Whitehall to lay a wreath, inscribed with the words “In everlasting remembrance,” before observing a profound silence. At 11:00 GMT, as the first toll of Big Ben resonated, the busy streets of the capital fell quiet for two minutes, followed by the evocative notes of the Last Post. At 11:00 GMT, as the first strike of Big Ben echoed from the nearby Houses of Parliament, the big two-minute silence filled the usually frenetic streets, before the playing of the Last Post. The crowds in Whitehall stopped for their own thoughts, in a rare moment of calm in the capital, the King had his eyes closed. Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally led those gathered at the Cenotaph in prayer. This national Remembrance event has been held around the Cenotaph, for more than a century.
This year’s service saw 10,000 armed forces veterans participate in a march-past, representing approximately 340 diverse military and civilian groups. Among them were the Royal Naval Association, the Royal Marines Association, Transport for London, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The procession was marked by the inclusive participation of veterans on disability scooters and families assisting those in wheelchairs, ensuring all who served could be honoured. It will be lovely to be there and remember them.
The cohort of World War Two veterans is becoming increasingly small and frail, with only 12 participants taking part in the parade, down from 20 the previous year. Among them was 103-year-old Annie Duplock, who had served in the Land Army during the war. Reflecting on the event, she described it as a “very emotional day,” noting the importance of remembering those who never returned home. The oldest participant in the parade was aged 105. Having lied about her age, and worked on a farm in Leicestershire, she had joined the Land Army in 1940 as a 16-year-old. Although a little apprehensive as I don’t quite know what to expect,” she said, i’m very excited. Including those who had no grave, and as a place to mourn for those families who might not be able to visit war cemeteries overseas, the monument was built as a focal point for honouring those who had fought and died in World War One.
Political presence was significant, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham attending for the first time in his current role.
He laid a wreath and used the occasion to highlight the importance of reflecting on the courage of service members, while also reaffirming a commitment to providing appropriate accommodation for homeless veterans before the Christmas period. He earlier announced that he wanted to tackle the problem of homelessness among ex-service personnel to “ensure that any veteran sleeping rough is offered appropriate accommodation before Christmas”.
The service saw a record number of former prime ministers in attendance, with nine present to pay their respects. Additionally, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, qualified to lay a wreath alongside other major political leaders for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of former prime ministers reached a record high, with nine lined up to lay wreaths, while Andy Burnham attended for the first time as the current occupant of No 10 Downing Street. (Top left to bottom right) former Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Lord Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major.
The official proceedings were watched by Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Other royals, including the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, were present at the monument, joined by senior military chiefs, faith leaders, and diplomats. Outside the Foreign Office, a Ukrainian flag hung from the roof, noticeably frayed after four years of conflict, serving as a poignant reminder of current global tensions.
Mark Atkinson, director general of the Royal British Legion, emphasized the significance of the day, stating that the nation comes together to pay tribute to all who have served and sacrificed across generations. The service remains a fixture of national life, anchored at the Cenotaph—a term meaning “empty tomb” in Greek.
Designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, the monument is celebrated for its austere, unadorned design, reflecting a lack of triumphalism. It was initially erected as a temporary structure of wood and plaster in 1919, but its immense public popularity led to the commissioning of a permanent stone version. This permanent structure was unveiled by King George V at 11:00 on 11 November 1920. Now, 106 years later, his great-grandson, King Charles III, continues the tradition of honouring the fallen at the same location. His great-grandson, Charles, was there again, on an overcast morning 106 years later, to continue paying respect.
