Britain honours war dead
Britain's Queen Elizabeth lays a wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday. Britain's Queen Elizabeth lays a wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday.
London - Queen Elizabeth II, other members of the British royal family and government ministers led tributes to British and Commonwealth soldiers who have died during conflicts.
The monarch was joined by husband Prince Philip and grandson the Duke of Cambridge as the country observed a two-minute silence on Sunday.
The royals were followed by Foreign Secretary William Hague in each laying a wreath at central London’s Cenotaph war memorial on behalf of all those in the armed forces across the commonwealth who have fallen.
Veterans and British forces across the world – including the 9 500 serving in Afghanistan – also joined in the silent tribute.
It is the first Remembrance Sunday since the death of the last soldier to have served on either side during World War I.
The Royal British Legion’s Helen Hill said that the number of veterans marching had increased over the past five years.
“The numbers are going up, not down,” she explained. “There are an increasing number of associations looking after the veteran community. More and more people want to participate in the activities,” Hill said.
This year, Remembrance Sunday actually falls on November 11, the date of the armistice which brought World War I to an end. – Sapa-AFP