King Charles will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and lead the nation in a two-minute silence on Sunday to honour those who died in the two world wars and those who died in other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth countries.
The Remembrance Sunday silence marks the historic moment fighting in the First World War ended in 1918 at 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month – six hours after the Armistice was signed. Armistice Day itself falls on Monday – 11 November this year.
Some 10,000 veterans will march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations of the Royal British Legion – the charity behind the annual poppy appeal. The National Remembrance Service’s centrepiece is the Cenotaph, a stone war memorial located in the heart of Whitehall in central London
Thousands of people will pay their respects at the commemorative event and take part in a two-minute silence, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). More than 800 sailors, soldiers and airmen are expected to be on duty at the Cenotaph and at memorial services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.
The Royal Family, the Prime Minister, senior politicians and representatives of religious denominations join the King to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth.
In addition, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy in World War II, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, as well as 75 years of NATO and 120 years of the Entente. Next year will mark 80 years of Victory Day and the Allied victory in Europe, as well as Victory over Japan Day, marking the end of the Second World War in the Far East.
