The King leads nation in silence on Remembrance Sunday

His Majesty The King will lead the nation in a two-minute silence to remember those who died in conflict

• Members of The Royal Family and senior politicians will lay wreaths at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London
• 10,000 veterans will march past the Cenotaph in tribute as part of The Royal British Legion’s Veteran Parade

His Majesty The King will lead the UK in the annual two-minute silence to remember those who have fallen and suffered in conflict at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.

The King will be joined by members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister, senior politicians and faith representatives to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

First Minister John Swinney MSP will join Robert Aldridge the Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, as well as veterans, and military personnel to remember the fallen on Remembrance Sunday in Edinburgh. 

Approximately 10,000 members of the public are expected to line Whitehall in London to take part in the annual two-minute silence at the Cenotaph and to watch The Royal British Legion’s veterans parade.

Of the 10,000 individuals marching this year, 326 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations will be represented. People of all ages will be among those marching – from the bereaved children of Scotty’s Little Soldiers through to the D-Day veterans of the Spirit of Normandy Trust.

Defence Minister Al Carns OBE MC, whose portfolio encompasses veterans and the wider Armed Forces community, will parade past the Cenotaph as part of the Royal Marines Association. The Afghanistan veteran completed his military service in May.

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, as well as the 75th anniversary of NATO and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.

Next year will mark the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and the Allied victory in Europe and  VJ Day, marking the end of the Second World War in the Far East.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This weekend, we come together to honour those who laid down their lives to keep our country safe. The freedoms we enjoy today – our democracy, our values, our way of life – have been hard won over generations. We are forever in debt to those brave souls who fought to defend this country, and who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“We honour them today and always. We remember them today and always.

“And as we do, we also think of those who are serving our country now, often far away from home, putting themselves in harm’s way so that we may sleep soundly in our beds.

“It is that service, and the courage and sacrifice of so many over the generations, that brings the country together this weekend, in a spirit of the most profound gratitude and respect.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “On Remembrance Sunday, we pause as a nation to honour the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We remember all those whose courage in the face of unimaginable hardship shaped the world we live in today.

“Every generation owes a debt to those who fought and fell, and it is our duty to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.

“It is a privilege and personal honour to represent Wigan, a constituency with so many veterans and their families, who truly represent the best of us. Today, we stand together across communities, in grief and in gratitude and remember that the values of freedom, justice, and equality—are not just the legacy of the past. They are the challenges we face in the present, and the work we continue to build for the future.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “On Remembrance Sunday, we unite behind our Armed Forces community and honour those who gave their lives for our freedom.

“We think of those who fell liberating Europe on D-Day 80 years ago. And we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the conflicts before and since.

“Across Remembrance weekend we will hear powerful memories from our veterans and their families. We have a duty to educate future generations about their courage and commitment to defending Britain.

“To all those serving, those who have served, and their families, we say thank you. And for those we have lost, we will remember them.”

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “Remembrance Sunday is both a national commemoration and a deeply personal moment of reflection as we contemplate the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we today might be free.

“Beyond the Cenotaph, it will be marked in communities across the United Kingdom, and wherever in the world our soldiers, sailors and aviators find themselves serving their country. We shall remember them.”

Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion said: “In a year that marks the 80th anniversary of the battles of 1944, 25 years since the end of the war in Kosovo, and 10 years since UK forces ended operations in Afghanistan, Remembrance continues to unite people across all backgrounds, communities and generations to recognise the sacrifices of the Armed Forces community, past and present.

“From risking their lives in war zones to spending time away from their families, and providing support during emergencies and humanitarian disasters, we owe those who choose to serve in the Armed Forces our gratitude and this weekend we encourage people to take a moment to reflect and remember their service.”

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators will be on duty on Remembrance Sunday, representing their services at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

The UK Armed Forces continue to honour the legacy of their predecessors by working year-round to safeguard UK security and global stability. As the nation remembers its fallen, British forces around the world will be protecting NATO’s eastern flank from threats, disrupting threats to international shipping in the world’s busiest shipping lanes and training hundreds more Ukrainian personnel in the battlefield skills needed to defend their country.

Additional personnel also remain on standby in Cyprus to support with de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. In all, close to 6,000 personnel will be deployed on operations and overseas bases around the world on Remembrance Sunday.

For those unable to travel to London for the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph or to their local Remembrance Sunday service, the national event will be broadcast live on the BBC, and Sky News.