London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 14, 2025

Britain marks Remembrance Sunday with scaled down ceremony

Britain marks Remembrance Sunday with scaled down ceremony

War veterans join politicians and the royal family at a socially distanced event in Whitehall

Britain marked a series of scaled back Remembrance Sunday events, with only a handful of veterans marching past the Cenotaph in central London because of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

The Queen observed from a balcony at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, while politicians and members of the royal family laid wreaths in Whitehall at a special socially distanced event at which crowds were banned.

Normally 10,000 people pack into Whitehall, while many others attend march-pasts and wreath-laying events around the country. But this year, about 30 veterans took part in a small march-past after the wreath-laying had concluded.

Instead the public were encouraged to watch on television, observe the two-minute silence at home or in their gardens, and display poppies in their windows, while a few veterans attended alternative events.

Retired army colonnel Jack Stenhouse, 72, said it was “essential” the tradition of Remembrance continued, where he laid a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on behalf of the Gordon Highlanders regiment.


The Queen observed from a balcony at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.


“One would hope that this would never be forgotten,” he said. “The danger of the pandemic is some of these traditions are broken, the rhythm is broken and it may be difficult to get them started again. But I suspect Remembrance Sunday will always be with us.”

In London, Prince Charles laid a wreath on behalf of the 94-year-old monarch, followed by Prince William, Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer.

Other wreaths were laid by four former prime ministers, John Major, Tony Blair, David Cameron and Theresa May. The ambassador of Nepal, Durga Bahadur Sabedi, also laid a wreath, on behalf of Gurkha veterans, only the second time a representative of the country has been asked to participate.

“In this time of adversity, no virus can stop us from honouring their memory, particularly when we have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of victory in the second world war,” Johnson said before the ceremony.

Neither the 99-year-old Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was present, nor was Prince Andrew, who has stepped down from royal duties amid fierce criticism over his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, or Harry, the Duke of Sussex.


A police officer lays wreaths at The Cenotaph in central London on Sunday.


Harry, a veteran of two tours of Afghanistan, had hoped to lay a wreath but his request is understood to have been turned down by the palace because he had stepped down from his official roles when he relocated to California with his wife Megan in March.

Instead the duke gave an interview to the Declassified podcast. “Being able to wear my uniform, being able to stand up in service of one’s country, these are amongst the greatest honours there are in life,” he said.

“To me, the uniform is a symbol of something much bigger, it’s symbolic of our commitment to protecting our country, as well as protecting our values.”

Gen Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, said some veterans might find Remembrance Sunday a lonely experience this year. “They traditionally have had the opportunity to get together and talk about their memories and their reflections, but equally to strut their stuff,” he said.

This year was the first year that face-to-face poppy collection had been cancelled – the fundraising effort had taken place every year during the second world war – but the British Legion said it hoped the public would be able to contribute online. The veterans’ charity normally raises £50m a year, and is still seeking donations until Armistice Day on Wednesday.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
×