Thousands of decorated veterans, military families and members of the public packed Whitehall in central London for the traditional ceremony and watched as the monarch laid a wreath at the memorial. There was a two minute silence marked by the first bells of Big Ben tolling at 11am. and a volley from a gun fired by the Royal Army’s Royal Horse Artillery at the nearby Horse Guards Parade. Image: The Queen considered the commemoration one of the most important commitments in the royal calendar Image: A gunshot marked the start of the two-minute silence The solemn moment of reflection ended with buglers from the Royal Marines playing the Last Post. The head of the armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, told Sky News that Remembrance Sunday was a “particular poignancy” this year following the Queen’s death and against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. It also marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. In Northern Ireland, Irish leader Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris attended a Remembrance Sunday service in Enniskillen 35 years after an IRA bomb at the event. Eleven people died on the day of the attack on the town’s war memorial in 1987, with another victim dying years later, never waking from a coma. It has become a recent tradition for the Irish Prime Minister to attend the Enniskillen event. Image: Thousands of veterans wearing medals attended the ceremony Image: Crowds packed Whitehall for the event The King was joined at the Cenotaph by other members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal, who also laid floral tributes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute on behalf of the government by laying a wreath, followed by Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, other party leaders, senior cabinet members, army chiefs and high commissioners. Image: Rishi Sunak laying wreath at the Cenotaph Also present were seven former prime ministers – Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Watching from the balcony of a government building were the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales. Image: The Queen Consort and Princess of Wales watched from a Whitehall balcony A short service followed the laying of the main wreaths, with the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mulally, offering a prayer. Other commemorations of the war dead were held across the UK.

Today marked another milestone since the Queen’s death

          Laura Baddock

Royal Correspondent @laurabundock The cenotaph service felt like another milestone as we transition to a new monarch. One of those national moments when you realize things are different since the Queen’s death. Of course the King knows the routine well. He laid his first crown 50 years ago and has been deputizing for the queen since 2017. But this was the first time he had led the nation’s Remembrance and it was an emotional service. There were personal touches. His new crown, while different in design, carried the royal racing colors so beloved by his mother. A wreath now for Camilla, the Queen Consort, and Prince William laying down his first as Prince of Wales. The transition of power took place in this traditional environment. There was an interesting sight with the long line of former Prime Ministers, more in number now than ever before. This is, however, always a day for veterans and 10,000 gathered to remember their fallen colleagues at the Royal British Legion march. Among them, the remarkable James Fenton, a hundred years old, happily marking his service in the Second World War. He had received his 100th birthday card from the Queen shortly before her death and said he felt privileged to be there to represent that he was no longer with us. Remembrance Sunday brings them both together and reminds us of their service. This year perhaps more than ever. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led tributes in Edinburgh, while her government’s veterans minister Keith Brown traveled to the Falkland Islands to attend a memorial service. The former Royal Marine served in the 1982 conflict. Image: Ceremonies to remember the war dead were held across the UK The Queen, who died nine weeks ago aged 96, considered the Remembrance Sunday service one of the most important and significant engagements in the royal calendar. The nation’s longest-serving monarch lived through the Second World War as a teenager, saw service as a military engineer and was head of the armed forces. Image: Irish leader Micheal Martin (right) attends a ceremony in Enniskillen 35 years after an IRA bomb Image: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon leads tributes in Edinburgh In an interview with Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Radakin said: “I think Remembrance Sunday is always poignant. “I think it’s moving for the whole nation, this special moment when we stop to think about the sacrifice and commitment of others to provide our freedom today. “I think there is a particular poignancy this year both with the loss of His Majesty, another loss of a World War II veteran. “I also think it’s painful when we once again have the specter of war in Europe and all that entails, and a country that has been invaded and is fighting for its freedom.”