Rishi Sunak was joined by all living previous prime ministers and his beleaguered home secretary, Suella Braverman, for this year’s Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London.
King Charles led thousands of veterans, senior politicians and members of the public in a service commemorating British military service people who died in the world wars and later conflicts.
Big Ben chimed to signal the start of the two-minute silence at 11am. It was ended by the sound of a cannon blasting from Horse Guards Parade followed by a bugler playing the last post.
Less than 24-hours earlier, there had been violent scenes around the Cenotaph as far-right protesters fought officers in what was billed a counter-protest to a much larger pro-Palestine rally.
King Charles laid the first wreath on behalf of the UK and he saluted the Cenotaph before other members of the royal family followed.
A wreath was then laid on behalf of Queen Camilla, who was dressed in black, and the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne shortly followed.
Police officers will be on a 24-hour watch of the Cenotaph throughout the day’s services, with about 1,375 officers on duty.
Supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson and football hooligans clashed with police in Whitehall during Saturday’s Armistice Day, after travelling to central London to counter-protest against pro-Palestine demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully through central London on Saturday to protest against Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza.
The march took place amid heightened tension between the Met police and the home secretary, who last week accused the force of showing bias when it came to demonstrations and of favouring leftwing causes and what she called pro-Palestinian “hate marchers”.
Earlier in the week, government ministers, including Braverman and the justice secretary, Alex Chalk, said they did not believe Saturday’s march should proceed because of a risk of Remembrance events being disturbed or the Cenotaph being defaced.
The main annual event at the Cenotaph takes place on Remembrance Sunday. Until the second world war a commemoration for casualties would also take place on Armistice Day itself.
Among those marching in the service were nuclear test veterans, who for the first time wore 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 different armed forces and civilian organisations were represented, as well as 300 veterans not affiliated with an association who have been invited to join for the first time.
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.”
