London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Dec 25, 2025

Royal Family lead tributes to nation's war dead

The Queen and politicians joined commemorations for those who lost their lives in conflict.

Politicians, Royal Family members and veterans have commemorated those who lost their lives in conflict as the UK marks Remembrance Sunday.

At 11:00 GMT, a two-minute silence was held across the country.

Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson broke away from the election campaign to attend the annual ceremony at the Cenotaph in London.

Prince Charles laid a wreath of poppies during the service on behalf of the Queen, who was watching from a balcony.

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex followed their father in laying wreaths.

The Queen, dressed in black, stood beside the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall as she viewed the commemorations.

The Duchess of Sussex looked on from another balcony with the Countess of Wessex and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

The beginning and end of the two minutes' silence were marked by the firing of a gun by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The commemorations at the Cenotaph honoured the armed forces community, British and Commonwealth veterans, the allies who fought alongside the UK and the civilian servicemen and women involved in the two world wars and later conflicts.

Cabinet ministers, religious leaders and representatives of Commonwealth nations attended alongside more than 800 members of the armed forces.

A royal aide laid a wreath on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh, who retired from royal duties in 2017.

For the first time, the ambassador of Nepal placed a wreath to honour the contribution Gurkha regiments have made to the UK's military campaigns over two centuries.

In another first, the intelligence services were honoured during the ceremony, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel laying wreathes on their behalf.

Five former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Theresa May, were all present.

After wreaths were laid, Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally led a service that ended with the Royal Air Force sounding the bugle call, Rouse.

Following the service, crowds lined the streets in the winter sun to watch as up to 10,000 war veterans marched in a slow procession past the war memorial.

Regiments and societies walked past the Cenotaph in groups, their pace matching the drum beat of a brass band.

Some wheelchair-using veterans left their chairs behind and walked the distance instead, their medals sparkling on their lapels.

World War Two veteran Ron Freer, 104, who is blind, is thought to be the oldest person to have marched at the Cenotaph this year.

The Remembrance Sunday commemorations always hold "special significance" for him because his father was killed in 1918 and is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery in the Somme, France, according to Blind Veterans UK.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Mr Johnson said he would be "proud" to lay his first wreath at the Cenotaph as prime minister, and vowed to continue to "champion those who serve today with such bravery in our military".

Labour leader Mr Corbyn said: "It was an honour meeting and hearing the stories of veterans, and all those who came to pay their respects."

He earlier said in a video message that many serving personnel, veterans and their families were "not getting the support they deserve".

And Liberal Democrat leader Ms Swinson said people should pause to reflect and remember how "fragile" peace can be.

The trio were joined at the commemorations by the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford and the DUP's Nigel Dodds.

Elsewhere, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance at Edinburgh City Chambers before giving a reading at the service at St Giles' Cathedral.

In Northern Ireland, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar laid a green laurel wreath at the war memorial in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on behalf of his government.

Ceremonies also took place across Wales, including at the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff.

This year marks 100 years since the first two-minute silence was observed to mark Armistice Day on 11 November 1919.

The UK's Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, told BBC One's Andrew Marr show it was important to remember that Remembrance Sunday was not only about older people and previous generations.

Gen Carter - Britain's most senior military officer - said many who participated in the commemorations were young men and women who fought in places such as Afghanistan.

"We have to remember the living veterans as well who have a huge amount to offer to society," he added.

The ceremony at the Cenotaph came after Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William and Kate joined the Queen at London's Royal Albert Hall on Saturday for the Festival of Remembrance.

It was their first appearance as a group since Harry and Meghan said they were struggling with public life.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Mortgage Rates Edge Lower as Bank of England Base Rate Cut Filters Through Lending Market
U.S. Supermarket Gives Customers Free Groceries for Christmas After Computer Glitch
Air India ‘Finds’ a Plane That Vanished 13 Years Ago
Caviar and Foie Gras? China Is Becoming a Luxury Food Powerhouse
Hong Kong Climbs to Second Globally in 2025 Tourism Rankings Behind Bangkok
From Sunniest Year on Record to Terror Plots and Sports Triumphs: The UK’s Defining Stories of 2025
Greta Thunberg Released on Bail After Arrest at London Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
Banksy Unveils New Winter Mural in London Amid Festive Season Excitement
UK Households Face Rising Financial Strain as Tax Increases Bite and Growth Loses Momentum
UK Government Approves Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedford Poised to Rival Disneyland Paris
UK Gambling Shares Slide as Traders Respond to Steep Tax Rises and Sector Uncertainty
Starmer and Trump Coordinate on Ukraine Peace Efforts in Latest Diplomatic Call
The Pilot Barricaded Himself in the Cockpit and Refused to Take Off: "We Are Not Leaving Until I Receive My Salary"
UK Fashion Label LK Bennett Pursues Accelerated Sale Amid Financial Struggles
U.S. Government Warns UK Over Free Speech in Pro-Life Campaigner Prosecution
Newly Released Files Shed Light on Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Links to the United Kingdom
Prince William and Prince George Volunteer Together at UK Homelessness Charity
UK Police Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’ as Authorities Recalibrate Free Speech Enforcement
Scambodia: The World Owes Thailand’s Military a Profound Debt of Gratitude
Women in Partial Nudity — and Bill Clinton in a Dress and Heels: The Images Revealed in the “Epstein Files”
US Envoy Witkoff to Convene Security Advisers from Ukraine, UK, France and Germany in Miami as Peace Efforts Intensify
UK Retailers Report Sharp Pre-Christmas Sales Decline and Weak Outlook, CBI Survey Shows
UK Government Rejects Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Aid for Ukraine
UK Financial Conduct Authority Opens Formal Investigation into WH Smith After Accounting Errors
UK Issues Final Ultimatum to Roman Abramovich Over £2.5bn Chelsea Sale Funds for Ukraine
Rare Pink Fog Sweeps Across Parts of the UK as Met Office Warns of Poor Visibility
UK Police Pledge ‘More Assertive’ Enforcement to Tackle Antisemitism at Protests
UK Police Warn They Will Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC as Broadcaster Pledges Legal Defence
UK Says U.S. Tech Deal Talks Still Active Despite Washington’s Suspension of Prosperity Pact
UK Mortgage Rules to Give Greater Flexibility to Borrowers With Irregular Incomes
UK Treasury Moves to Position Britain as Leading Global Hub for Crypto Firms
U.S. Freezes £31 Billion Tech Prosperity Deal With Britain Amid Trade Dispute
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Potential UK Return Gains New Momentum Amid Security Review and Royal Dialogue
Zelensky Opens High-Stakes Peace Talks in Berlin with Trump Envoy and European Leaders
Historical Reflections on Press Freedom Emerge Amid Debate Over Trump’s Media Policies
UK Boosts Protection for Jewish Communities After Sydney Hanukkah Attack
UK Government Declines to Comment After ICC Prosecutor Alleges Britain Threatened to Defund Court Over Israel Arrest Warrant
Apple Shutters All Retail Stores in the United Kingdom Under New National COVID-19 Lockdown
US–UK Technology Partnership Strains as Key Trade Disagreements Emerge
UK Police Confirm No Further Action Over Allegation That Andrew Asked Bodyguard to Investigate Virginia Giuffre
Giuffre Family Expresses Deep Disappointment as UK Police Decline New Inquiry Into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Claims
Transatlantic Trade Ambitions Hit a Snag as UK–US Deal Faces Emerging Challenges
Ex-ICC Prosecutor Alleges UK Threatened to Withdraw Funding Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Bid
UK Disciplinary Tribunal Clears Carter-Ruck Lawyer of Misconduct in OneCoin Case
‘Pink Ladies’ Emerge as Prominent Face of UK Anti-Immigration Protests
Nigel Farage Says Reform UK Has Become Britain’s Largest Party as Labour Membership Falls Sharply
Google DeepMind and UK Government Launch First Automated AI Lab to Accelerate Scientific Discovery
UK Economy Falters Ahead of Budget as Growth Contracts and Confidence Wanes
Australia Approves Increased Foreign Stake in Strategic Defence Shipbuilder
×