Politics

Remembrance Sunday 2019: Royal family to lead tributes to UK’s war dead



The Royal Family will lead the nation in paying respects to its war dead at the traditional wreath-laying Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, will pause election campaigning to attend the service at the memorial on Whitehall in central London.

Other politicians, including Priti Patel, David Cameron, and Theresa May have already begun to arrive.

Hundreds of armed forces personnel will also be present at the occasion, alongside Cabinet ministers, religious leaders and representatives of Commonwealth nations.

David Cameron arrives for Remembrance Sunday service (Jonathan Brady/PA wire)

As Big Ben strikes 11am, a two minutes silence will be observed, with its beginning and end marked by the firing of a gun by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Buglers of the Royal Marines will sound the Last Post before wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph by members of the royal family, politicians, foreign representatives and senior armed forces personnel.

Prince Charles will lay the first wreath on behalf of the Queen again this year, who will watch the service from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (PA)

An equerry is due to lay a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh who is not expected to be present after retiring from royal duties two years ago.

The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex will follow their father in laying wreaths, while their wives will also watch the ceremony from balconies.

Five former prime ministers will attend: Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May (PA)

After wreaths are laid, the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, will lead a service of remembrance which will end with trumpeters of the Royal Air Force sounding Rouse (Reveille).

Following the ceremony, thousands of veterans and servicemen and women will march past the Cenotaph to pay their respects to those killed in past and present conflicts.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Battle of Kohima in India, the Battle of Arnhem in the Netherlands and the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.



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