World War II veterans applauded as the King led Remembrance Sunday tributes | Remembrance Day

World War II veterans were cheered as they arrived at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, before being joined by members of the Royal Family and senior politicians to honor those who died in conflict.

King Charles laid the first wreath in recognition of those killed in wars and conflicts dating back to the First World War. He was followed by his son, the Prince of Wales.

The king wore a field marshal’s uniform – the military’s highest rank – and saluted before retreating from the monument after a two-minute silence.

The Prince of Wales, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Air Force and holding the rank of Wing Commander, saluted after laying his wreath at the Cenotaph.

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmeralso laid a floral tribute, along with senior politicians including Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood and Lindsay Hoyle, and representatives of the Commonwealth.

Starmer said: “This Remembrance Sunday we pause as a nation to honor all who have served our country. We reflect on the extraordinary bravery of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.”

Looking back on the 80th anniversary of the Second World War, Starmer spoke of “a generation that stood up to tyranny and shaped our future”.

He added: “Such a sacrifice deserves more than silence, which is why this administration remains committed to supporting veterans, their families and those who serve. Today we remember this and renew our pledge to uphold the values ​​they fought for.”

The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilleboth dressed in black, and other members of the royal family watched the Remembrance Sunday service from a balcony at the Foreign Office overlooking the cenotaph. The couple were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Standing close to the Cenotaph were eight former Prime Ministers: John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinneymarked the occasion in Edinburgh, laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance outside the City Chambers.

As well as members of the Royal Family and political leaders, 10,000 members of the armed forces took part in the Royal British Legion’s annual march, including around three D-Day veterans among the 20 Second World War veterans marking 80 years since the conflict ended in 1945.

About a dozen people, dressed in military uniforms and poppies, were pushed in wheelchairs along Whitehall as applause and a veteran saluted at the Cenotaph.

Among the demonstrators was 101-year-old Donald Poole, a Royal Army Ordnance Corps technician who was serving in India in 1945 when Japan’s surrender was announced, prompting an impromptu celebration.

Poole, originally from Bromley, Greater Londonsaid: “It is a great honor to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all the conflicts, and I know how lucky I am to still be here, thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the civilian services that suffered during the Second World War, especially the fire service, which saved so many lives during the blitz – many of whom lost their own.”

Henry Rice, a former signalman who arrived at Juno Beach five days after D-Day, and Mervyn Kersh, who arrived in Normandy at the age of 19, three days after the start of the D-Day invasion, were also present Sunday.

Sid Machin, one of six 101-year-olds registered for the march, is one of the last surviving Chindit special forces soldiers during World War II in Burma (now Myanmar).

When he was just 19, Machin found himself behind enemy lines at night in a glider in the jungle as part of a unit that disrupted Japanese supply lines and infrastructure.

In addition to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, commemorations were also held at war memorials in towns and cities across the United Kingdom.