The nation fell silent on Memorial Sunday as it commemorates the victims killed in previous conflicts. The Queen did not attend services at the London cenotaph after spraining her back. A two-minute silence was observed nationwide at 11:00 GMT, with similar ceremonies held at military memorials across the country.
The events resulted in the return of veteran numbers, military, and pre-pandemic crowds. The Whitehall National Memorial Office was closed to the public last year, and attendance was limited due to coronavirus measures. This year is back to normal, with hundreds of soldiers and women marching around the memorial. And marching and nearly 10,000 veterans marching past the war memorial and being watched by many.
At the Cenotaph, the Prince of Wales presented a wreath on behalf of the Queen, as he has been doing since 2017. The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke, Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl. Countess of Wessex, and Princess Royal were also in attendance. High-ranking politicians also laid wreaths, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Johnson said it was time to “get together to remember those who sacrificed everything for our country.”
Sir Keir said it was time for all of us to stop, reflect and remember the millions of people in the UK. And the British Commonwealth who have protected us through their service and sacrifice. General Sir Nick Carter, the late defense chief, who also laid the wreath, said the dead did so “to protect the free and open way of life we enjoy today.”
The charity Royal British Legion, which holds a Poppy Appeal on Memorial Sunday night every year. Said this year’s parade involved hundreds of young people from cadets, guides, and scouts.
The organization said it was “important that the torch of memory be passed on to the younger generation. 21 LGBT+ veterans also lined up, including the first transgender officer to publicly serve in the British armed forces. The Queen, who survived the Second World War. And is head of the Wehrmacht, decided on Sunday morning “with great regret” not to attend the service at the Cenotaph and was said to be “disappointed” for missing the event.