Armistice Day, commemorating the end of fighting in the First World War in 1918, is one of the most important days of remembrance in Great Britain – including for the royal family.
The Royal Family and top British politicians remembered the war dead in London on Sunday. After two minutes of silence, King Charles III. (74) was the first to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph memorial in the government district, followed by his son and heir to the throne Prince William (41), his brother Prince Edward (59) and his sister Princess Anne (73).
Queen Camilla (76), William’s wife Princess Kate (41) and Edward’s wife Duchess Sophie (58) watched the ceremony from a nearby balcony in rainy weather. When the national anthem played, an emotional Charles appeared to be fighting back tears.
Remembrance Sunday is a central day in the British royal calendar. It commemorates the fallen soldiers of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the leaders of the other major parties, Speaker of Parliament Lindsay Hoyle and representatives of the Commonwealth members also laid wreaths while a military band played a funeral march. All seven living former prime ministers also watched the ceremony.
Soldiers and veterans were then supposed to march past the Cenotaph. The pillar represents an empty tomb into which all residents of Great Britain and the Commonwealth can project their feelings and thoughts. According to the PA news agency, the oldest participant was 100-year-old Joe Randall.
The commemoration falls annually on the second Sunday in November, closest to November 11, “Armistice Day” to commemorate the World War I armistice in 1918.
This year, hundreds of right-wing radicals tried to break through to the ceremony on Saturday morning. According to their own statements, they wanted to protect the Cenotaph from the hundreds of thousands of participants in a pro-Palestinian rally. Critics accuse Interior Minister Suella Braverman of inciting the right-wing with radical statements about the demonstration.
Source: Stern
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