His Majesty The King leads nation in silence on Remembrance Sunday
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-09)

His Majesty The King will lead the nation in a two-minute silence to remember those who died in conflict

- Members of The Royal Family and senior politicians will lay wreaths at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London
- 10,000 veterans will pay tribute as part of The Royal British Legion’s March Past the Cenotaph
His Majesty The King will lead the UK in the annual two-minute silence to remember those who have fallen and suffered in conflict at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.

The King will be joined by members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister, senior politicians and faith representatives to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

Approximately 10,000 veterans will take part in the Royal British Legion’s March Past, with over 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations represented. People of all ages will be among those marching – from bereaved children and military cadets, through to some of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War. Approximately 10,000 members of the public are expected to line Whitehall in London to watch the March Past and take part in the annual two-minute silence.

This follows commemorations earlier in the year to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), which paid tribute to the millions across the UK and Commonwealth who served in Europe and the Far East, telling the stories of those who fought, the children who were evacuated, and those who stepped into the essential roles on the Home Front.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This Remembrance Sunday, we pause as a nation to honour all those who have served our country. We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the World Wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.

Eighty years since the end of the Second World War, we remember a generation who stood against tyranny and shaped our future. Their legacy is peace, and our duty is to protect it.

Such sacrifice deserves more than silence, which is why this government remains committed to supporting veterans, their families, and those who serve. Today, we remember, and we renew our promise to uphold the values they fought for.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

This year, as we marked eighty years since the end of the Second World War, we have been reminded of the immense courage and sacrifices made by all those who have served our country.

On this Remembrance Sunday, we come together again to reflect and honour the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, past and present, and to ensure that their service is never forgotten. Today, we remember them, in grief and in gratitude, mindful that their legacy lives on in the freedom we enjoy today.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

On Remembrance Sunday we come together to honour those who fought and died so we could live in freedom.

We pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country, and we recognise the dedication of those who serve in our Armed Forces today to safeguard the peace we all inherited.

As a nation, we pay our respects and thank our entire Armed Forces community. We will never take their service for granted.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB said:

Remembrance Sunday stands as both an important moment of national reflection and an opportunity for personal acts of remembrance. It is a time to honour all those who laid down their lives so that we might live in freedom as well as recognising those serving today, who continue to protect us.

From the Cenotaph in London to memorials in towns and villages across the United Kingdom, and wherever our Armed Forces serve around the world, we pause to remember their courage, their sacrifice, and their enduring legacy. We shall remember them.

Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion said:

In a year that marks 80 years since Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan, we reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, aware that this is one of the nation’s last opportunities to recognise, thank and honour the small number of veterans still with us today.

As we come together on Remembrance Sunday, we not only pay tribute to them but to all those who have bravely defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

From risking their lives in warzones to spending time away from their families, and providing vital support during emergencies and humanitarian disasters, the dedication of our Armed Forces community is extraordinary. We encourage the nation to pause, reflect and remember their service and sacrifice.

101-year-old Donald Poole, a veteran of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who will be marching with the Burma Star Memorial Fund said:

It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts, and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present. I also want to pay tribute to the civilian services who suffered during the Second World War, particularly the Fire Service, who saved so many lives during the Blitz – many of whom lost their own.

The UK Armed Forces continue to honour the legacy of their predecessors by working year-round to safeguard UK security and global stability. As the nation remembers its fallen, British forces around the world will be protecting NATO’s eastern flank from threats, disrupting threats to international shipping in the world’s busiest shipping lanes, supporting with de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and training hundreds more Ukrainian personnel in the battlefield skills needed to defend their country. In all, close to 9,000 personnel will be deployed on operations and overseas bases around the world on Remembrance Sunday.

For those unable to travel to London for the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph or to their local Remembrance Sunday service, the national event will be broadcast live on the BBC, and Sky News.

ENDS

Plan your journey using the Transport for London (https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/) and National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/) websites.

Check Transport for London status updates (https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/) and National Rail Enquiries latest travel information (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx) before you travel.

Find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nationalrailenq) or downloading the TfL Go app (https://tfl.gov.uk/maps_/tfl-go).

How to watch:

On BBC television, coverage will be live on BBC One and iPlayer from 10:15.

Additional live streams will also be available as follows from 1015:
- British Sign Language coverage will be on the Red Button and iPlayer
- Audio described coverage for the blind and partially sighted will be on BBC iPlayer
- Uninterrupted commentary-free coverage is available on iPlayer
- Highlights will be shown in the evening on BBC Two from 6pm to 7.15pm
- On radio there will be live coverage on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Sky News will broadcast the service live on TV, the Sky News App and website, and on YouTube.

There will be live coverage of the service available on ITV News YouTube and the events of the day will be covered in the ITV News bulletins and throughout the day on ITVX.