Royal family and politicians join veterans to honour war dead 100 years after first Remembrance Day

Hundreds of armed forces personnel joined by members of royal family and senior politicians at annual memorial

Members of the Royal Family and senior politicians have joined hundreds of war veterans to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict as the UK marks Remembrance Sunday.

Boris Johnson, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other political party leaders broke away from election campaigning to attend the service at the memorial on Whitehall in central London.

A two-minute silence was observed at 11am, beginning and ending with the firing of a gun by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Prince Charles laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph memorial on behalf of the Queen, who watched the service from a nearby balcony.

An equerry laid a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh, who was not present after retiring from royal duties two years ago.

Prince William and Prince Harry followed their father in laying wreaths, while the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex also watched the ceremony from the balconies.

Five former prime ministers – Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May – were also in attendance.

After wreaths were laid, the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, led a service of remembrance which ended with trumpeters of the Royal Air Force sounding the Rouse (Reveille).

Following the ceremony, thousands of veterans and servicemen and women began to 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.

Politicians and members of the royal family also attended the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex were present, while Boris Johnson attended the memorial with his partner, Carrie Symonds.

Remembrance Sunday is always held on the second Sunday in November, while Armistice Day is always held on the eleventh day of the eleventh month to commemorate the signing of the armistice.