The Queen leads tributes at Remembrance Sunday service watched by Duchess of Cambridge

 
Memorial service: The Queen and Prince Philip at the Cenotaph today
Pa11 November 2013

The Queen led the nation in honouring members of the Armed Forces killed in conflict as Remembrance Sunday services took place around the UK to remember our war dead.

The monarch laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph on Whitehall to commemorate all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the decades since the First World War, bowing her head after paying her respects.

Memorial: David Cameron lays a wreath of poppies

Senior royals, including Second World War veteran the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge - with wife Kate watching from a nearby balcony - joined the monarch and politicians, military leaders, veterans and serving personnel in laying wreaths of poppies at the monument.

Prince Harry was laying the wreath on behalf of his father Prince Charles, who is currently abroad on an official tour of India with the Duchess of Cornwall, and was marking the occasion there.

Troops in Afghanistan were joined by the Duke of York, who laid a wreath during a service held at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province to mark Remembrance Sunday. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also flew to Afghanistan last night to join servicemen and women.

A solider salutes Prince Harry at the Remembrance Sunday service

Millions across the UK fell silent in tribute to those lost in war, joining the crowds gathered in central London who stood in a moment of quiet contemplation as Big Ben struck 11am.

During the two-minute silence, only the distant sounds of traffic and the rustling of leaves could be heard, despite the fact that police said Whitehall was at capacity.

Memorial: Servicemen at the Cenotaph today

The beginning and end of the silence was marked with the firing of a round by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, using a 13-pounder First World War gun.

In cold but bright weather, the royals and dignitaries then laid their wreaths at the Cenotaph.

Prime Minister David Cameron was first after the royals to do so, followed by Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and London Mayor Boris Johnson also took part in the ceremony.

The Duchess of Cambridge was accompanied on the Foreign Office balcony by the Countess of Wessex and Vice Admiral Tim Laurence.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who joined the Royal Navy in 1939, wore the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet for the ceremony.

Prince Harry, who has undertaken two tours of duty in Afghanistan, wore the uniform of Captain, Household Cavalry with the Army Air Corps beret.

His brother left operational service recently after more than seven years in the forces. He wore the uniform of Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant.

Following the wreath-laying, the Bishop of London the Right Reverend Richard Chartres conducted a short service in his role as Dean of HM Chapels Royal.

More than 10,000 veterans and civilians then marched past the Cenotaph to pay their respects to their departed comrades, led this year by members of the War Widows Association, wearing black coats and red scarves.

They were all warmly applauded as they paraded past, some veterans in wheelchairs and motorised scooters as they marked the loss of their comrades.

Chelsea Pensioners, in their distinctive red coats, were cheered as they marched by the Cenotaph.

There was a large contingent of veterans from the Korean War, the armistice of which was 60 years ago.

The 70th anniversaries of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Dambusters' Raid were also marked this year.

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