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HM The Queen leads the tributes at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday

11th November 2007

The Queen led the nation in remembering Britain's war dead today as thousands of people across the country honoured servicemen and women on Remembrance Sunday.

Wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph by The Queen, The Prince of Wales, Prince William and other members of the Royal Family as the United Kingdom remembered those who sacrificed their lives.

Prince William, a Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals), laid a wreath for the first time at the war memorial in Central London.

Thousands of veterans marched past Whitehall's famous war memorial to pay their respects to fallen comrades and were applauded by the watching crowds. 

Whitehall was bathed in brilliant winter sunshine as the remembrance service began just before 11am.

The various contingents of service personnel and civilians were already in place around the Cenotaph before The Queen led the Royal Family out from the Foreign Office which overlooks the monument.

War veterans, many elderly and frail, had marched close to the Cenotaph and proudly wore their medals and regimental berets. Their representatives, carrying wreaths, were standing to the north side of the memorial.

The west side was formed by detachments of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force, among others.

The east side was formed by detachments including the Household Cavalry, The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, the police, fire, ambulance and the British Red Cross Society.

The south side was lined by the military bands including the massed bands of the Guards Division.

Before the wreaths were laid a round was fired from nearby Horse Guards Parade by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery to mark the start of the two minutes' silence.

The whole of Whitehall fell silent as the thousands gathered bowed their heads to remember the war dead.

The Queen, who wore black and a large red poppy, then faced the Cenotaph ahead of the Royal Family and after being handed a wreath by her equerry, Squadron Leader Andrew Calame, placed the floral tribute at the base of the stone monument.

The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Prince William, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Princess Royal and The Duke of Kent also laid wreaths.

When it was William's turn, The Prince, who wore a sword and peaked cap, stepped forward with his wreath and laid it close to the stone monument before retreating a few steps and saluting the Cenotaph.

Watching from balconies at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence.

Prince Harry, like Prince William, is a Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals), attended a private remembrance service with his regiment.

Politicians past and present also gathered to pay their respects, including former prime ministers Baroness Thatcher, Sir John Major and Tony Blair and senior cabinet ministers including Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

The multi-faith ceremony was attended by representatives from a number of religions including Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, and Dr Indajit Singh, director of the Network of Sikh Organisations.

The First and Second World Wars were remembered as were the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UK has suffered 83 military fatalities in Afghanistan and 169 in Iraq since hostilities began in the two countries.

As the royal party, politicians and dignitaries left the Cenotaph, veterans had the opportunity to march past the thousands who had gathered to watch the event to great applause.

Around 8,000 ex-servicemen and women take part in the Remembrance Sunday parade each year.

Chris Simpkins, Director General of The Royal British Legion said: "That so many have participated shows the nation is united in remembering the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and those who continue to put their lives at risk for us today."