Charles leads Remembrance Sunday service at Cenotaph in London

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Charles Leads Remembrance Sunday Service At Cenotaph In London
A two-minute silence took place across the UK at 11am. Photo: PA Images
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Britain's King Charles led a Remembrance Day service in central London on Sunday as the UK paid their respects to those who died in conflict.

A two-minute silence took place across the UK at 11am.

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Wreaths were laid by members of the British royal family, senior UK politicians and dignitaries at the Cenotaph in London, where a major policing operation remains in place after more than 120 arrests were made – mostly of far-right counter-protesters – as a pro-Palestinian march was held on Armistice Day.

Remembrance Sunday
Members of the British royal family at the Remembrance Day service (Aaron Chown/PA)

Charles led the memorial in Whitehall commemorating the end of the First World War and other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

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Wearing the uniform of the Marshal of the Royal Air Force with greatcoat, poppy and sword, the king laid a wreath similar to the one produced for Britain's King George VI.

Remembrance Sunday
Britain's King Charles and Prince William lay wreaths during the Remembrance Sunday service (Aaron Chown/PA)

Prince William also laid a wreath, as did Princess Anne, Prince Edward, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and other senior politicians.

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Major Ollie Plunket of The Rifles, equerry to Camilla, laid a wreath on behalf of the queen, who was watching from a balcony with William's wife Catherine .

Buckingham Palace said the queen’s wreath closely resembled the one produced for the queen mother.

Almost 10,000 veterans and 800 armed forces personnel from all three services were then due to take part in a march-past.

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Remembrance Sunday
Camilla and Katherine on a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Among those marching are nuclear test veterans, who for the first time will wear a medal acknowledging their contribution.

After 70 years of waiting for recognition, those exposed to the effects of nuclear bombs during the UK’s testing programme were given a medal, depicting an atom surrounded by olive branches, for the Remembrance Sunday service.

More than 300 armed forces and civilian organisations are represented, as well as 300 veterans not affiliated with an association who have been invited to join for the first time.

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Mr Sunak said: “The courage and commitment shown by our servicemen and women, both today and throughout the generations that came before them, is humbling and I know many across the country will be honouring their memory today in quiet reflection.

“Recent events have served as a stark reminder that we cannot take the hard-earned peace we live in for granted, which is why I am honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the nation in the memory of all those that have lost their lives defending our country and the values we hold so close.

“I am determined to ensure we never forget the ultimate sacrifice they have made.”

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