Solemn Queen takes lead in paying respects

The monarch laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in 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.

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

Prince Harry laid a wreath on behalf of his father Prince Charles, who is 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 at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also flew to Afghanistan to join servicemen and women.

In Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny laid a laurel wreath during a solemn ceremony at the memorial in Enniskillen – where the IRA killed 11 people in a Poppy Day bombing in 1987, while in Scotland, a parade of veterans, serving military detachments and cadets marched from St Giles Street in Edinburgh to the City Chambers in the High Street where First Minister Alex Salmond was among those to lay wreaths at the Stone of Remembrance.

Across the UK, millions fell silent in tribute to those lost in war, joining the crowds gathered in central London who stood in 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.

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

In cold but clear weather, the royals and dignitaries then laid their wreaths.

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

Following the wreath-laying, Bishop of London the Right Rev 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.

Also in the parade was Mick Scanlan, 55, from Beverley, who was marching for the first time on behalf of Blind Veterans UK.

Mr Scanlan served in the 2nd Btn Coldstream Guards for 20 years and later lost his sight as a result of diabetic maculopathy.

He told the Yorkshire Post: “It was an opportunity I wasn’t going to miss. I think every serviceman has to make one attempt to march at the Cenotaph.”

The marchers were warmly applauded as they paraded past, with some veterans in wheelchairs and motorised scooters.

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.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Laurence took the salute at Horse Guards Parade.

Since last Remembrance Sunday, 10 British forces personnel have died on operations, with the Ministry of Defence counting in that number Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was killed in London in May.