Nation falls silent in memory of the fallen as royal family lead remembrance ceremonies for Armistice Day 2025
The Princess of Wales has led the nation in a poignant two-minute silence on Armistice Day, formally marking the end of the First World War but also in remembrance of all who paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms enjoyed today in the UK.
Kate stood silent, still and deep in thought as she joined veterans in honouring the war dead at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, before laying a wreath in memory of those who died.
Poignant services were held in towns across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK today, the anniversary of the end of the First World War, with the silence observed at 11am to remember those who have died in military conflicts.
It was the first time future queen Kate – dressed in a military-style black coat, wide-brimmed black hat adorned with a bow and wearing two poppies – had attended the service at the Arboretum and laid a wreath on Armistice Day.
Queen Camilla, meanwhile, joined commuters on a train from Chippenham to London Paddington to take part in Great Western Railway’s Poppies to Paddington initiative.
She travelled on the 9.28am service to London from the Wiltshire station to mark the initiative, where wreaths are placed on early morning train services and brought to Paddington station for a special service.
At Stormont, political leaders gathered for a remembrance event in the senate chamber of Parliament Buildings, where a bugler played the Last Post.
Afterwards, Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots led a procession through the Great Hall of the building to the war memorial close to the entrance.
There Mr Poots laid a wreath to mark the moment the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War, as did the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady and Assembly chief executive Lesley Hogg.
Several political figures also laid wreaths, including DUP leader Gavin Robinson, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, SDLP leader of the opposition Matthew O’Toole and TUV MLA Timothy Gaston.
DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly accompanied her party leader during the solemn event.
She had cited the occasion as a reason she was unable to attend Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony for new Irish president Catherine Connolly in Dublin.
Sinn Fein’s chief whip in the Assembly Sinead Ennis attended the remembrance ceremony in the senate chamber.
In keeping with the republican party’s past approach to the Stormont event, a representative did not lay a wreath at the memorial afterwards.
At Belfast City Hall, the Royal British Legion led the official observance of remembrance in the Garden of Remembrance.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly and members of the public took part in the official observance and two minutes’ silence at 11am.
At the National Memorial Arboretum, the Princess of Wales was handed a wreath to lay in the centre of the memorial.
Watched by the crowd, which included veterans and their families, she stepped forward to lay the large ring of poppies before appearing to take a moment of reflection and then returning to her seat.
She bowed her head as the crowd prayed for those who had been affected by conflict, including members of the armed forces and civilians.
After the service, the princess visited the memorial wall and went on to meet a series of veterans and their families.
Elsewhere, in Edinburgh, members of the public bowed their heads in silence as they gathered in the Garden of Remembrance at the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens.
In central London, the Western Front Association led commemorations at the Cenotaph and In St Mary’s Church in Dover, Kent, a cascade of knitted poppies flowed down from the top of the church.
A video message from the Prince of Wales was played to children across the UK as part of the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Assembly. William told the pupils about the importance of wearing a red poppy and that “remembrance is for everyone”.