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Nation and troops honour war dead Nation and troops honour war dead
(about 1 hour later)
The Queen has led the Remembrance Sunday ceremony commemorating the sacrifices made by Britain's war dead. Thousands of war veterans have marched past the Cenotaph memorial in London to mark Remembrance Sunday.
A two-minute silence was held at 1100 GMT, and the Queen laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph memorial in central London. After the commemoration of Britain's war dead began with a gun blast and two minutes' silence on Whitehall, the Queen laid the first wreath of poppies.
For the first time Prince William also laid a wreath, as other events took place in the UK, Iraq and Afghanistan. Senior Royals followed suit, including Prince William for the first time, then the PM and other leading politicians.
Britain's oldest war veteran, 111-year-old Henry Allingham, will lay a wreath in northern France. Other remembrance events were also taking place around the country and in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This year Remembrance Sunday falls exactly 89 years after the ending of World War I, Armistice Day.This year Remembrance Sunday falls exactly 89 years after the ending of World War I, Armistice Day.
Afghanistan ceremony Royal wreaths
In Afghanistan, 100 Royal Marines from 40 Commando earlier held a service overlooking the Kajaki dam in Helmand province, a site they have been fighting to protect from the Taleban. Britain's oldest war veteran, 111-year-old Henry Allingham, will lay a wreath in northern France.
HAVE YOUR SAY Read the names on your local war memorial. Then say thank you. Mark Newdick, Danbury, USA Send us your comments
At 1100 local time - 0630 GMT - a two-minute silence was held. This was followed by the laying of a single wreath at the foot of a wooden cross by the youngest marine present - Robert Worth, who turned 18 two days before he was deployed.
And with 42 British soldiers having died since the last Remembrance Day, a roll of honour was read out.
At the London ceremony thousands of veterans, many elderly and frail, marched past the memorial in Whitehall to pay their respects.At the London ceremony thousands of veterans, many elderly and frail, marched past the memorial in Whitehall to pay their respects.
Other senior royals attending include the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent. Their participation began after the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prince William, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent, had laid her wreath.
We use this time to remember those who have made sacrifices and continue to do so, in order to bring about and maintain our freedom Chris SimpkinsRoyal British Legion Troops in Afghanistan marked Remembrance Sunday
Princes Charles and Andrew and Princess Anne also laid wreaths, as did Edward for the first time.
A Clarence House spokeswoman said Prince Harry would be attending a private remembrance service with his regiment.A Clarence House spokeswoman said Prince Harry would be attending a private remembrance service with his regiment.
Princes Charles and Andrew and Princess Anne laid wreaths, as did Edward for the first time. Mr Brown said people would be remembering people who had died in various wars.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and the Scottish National Party member Angus Robertson also laid wreaths. "The sacrifice, the courage, the dedication of our armed forces is what is uppermost in our minds this weekend," he told Sky News.
"As a nation we are remembering more than perhaps 10 years ago, 20 years ago, just how much we owe to people who give their lives - and young lives - for the service of our country."
HAVE YOUR SAY Read the names on your local war memorial. Then say thank you. Mark Newdick, Danbury, USA Send us your comments
Among many to lay wreaths around the Cenotaph were Conservative leader David Cameron, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and the Scottish National Party member Angus Robertson.
Former prime ministers Tony Blair, Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major, also paid their respects.Former prime ministers Tony Blair, Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major, also paid their respects.
More than 40 High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries also laid wreaths at the event, and the ceremony was led by the bishop of London, Richard Chartres.More than 40 High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries also laid wreaths at the event, and the ceremony was led by the bishop of London, Richard Chartres.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond earlier took part in a special Remembrance service in Sri Lanka.Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond earlier took part in a special Remembrance service in Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan ceremony
In Afghanistan, 100 Royal Marines from 40 Commando earlier held a service overlooking the Kajaki dam in Helmand province, a site they have been fighting to protect from the Taleban.
At 1100 local time - 0630 GMT - a two-minute silence was held. This was followed by the laying of a single wreath at the foot of a wooden cross by the youngest marine present - Robert Worth, who turned 18 two days before he was deployed.
And with 42 British soldiers having died since the last Remembrance Day, a roll of honour was read out.
We use this time to remember those who have made sacrifices and continue to do so, in order to bring about and maintain our freedom Chris SimpkinsRoyal British Legion
Chris Simpkins, the Royal British Legion's director general, said Remembrance Sunday was one of the most important days in the nation's calendar.Chris Simpkins, the Royal British Legion's director general, said Remembrance Sunday was one of the most important days in the nation's calendar.
He called on everyone to observe the two-minute silence to remember not only those who died in the two world wars, but also those currently fighting in the Middle East. He called on everyone to remember not only those who died in the two world wars, but also those currently fighting in the Middle East.
MemoriesMemories
Elsewhere, 200 veterans of the Falklands War have returned to the islands for a service of commemoration in Port Stanley.Elsewhere, 200 veterans of the Falklands War have returned to the islands for a service of commemoration in Port Stanley.
British soldiers in Iraq and other countries are also holding services and parades.British soldiers in Iraq and other countries are also holding services and parades.
The Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, sent a message to members of the armed forces.The Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, sent a message to members of the armed forces.
"For the great many of you who have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the memories of the price paid will be all too fresh."For the great many of you who have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the memories of the price paid will be all too fresh.
"We have lost friends and comrades. Families have lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters, parents."We have lost friends and comrades. Families have lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters, parents.
"We remember those families today; they bear a heavy burden, and the nation owes them a debt that it can never fully repay.""We remember those families today; they bear a heavy burden, and the nation owes them a debt that it can never fully repay."
Festival
The event in London follows on from Saturday night's Festival of Remembrance.
Poppies were sprinkled over the Royal Albert Hall in London, a symbol of the blood shed by those who gave their lives.
The Queen, patron of the Royal British Legion, was joined there by other members of the Royal Family, including the Duke Of York.
On Saturday, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a service of remembrance in Whitehall, where they were joined by around 150 war widows.
The Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, is being broadcast on BBC One from 1030 GMT to 1210 GMT.