Queen leads nation in Remembrance Day tributes

Queen Elizabeth II at the Cenotaph memorial in London on Remembrance Sunday. Credit: PA Wire

The country fell silent today to remember its war dead at services across the country as the Queen led the nation in honouring the fallen.

The monarch was the first of many to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph memorial in London to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who died fighting in all conflicts since the First World War. The Duke of Edinburgh followed, paying tribute to the fallen personnel. Tim Ewart reports.

On an unusually sunny autumn day, senior members of the monarchy joined Prime Minister David Cameron, military chiefs, servicemen and women and thousands of watching spectators in paying their respects.

The Duke of Cambridge, wearing his RAF uniform, laid a wreath, under the gaze of the Duchess of Cambridge, who watched from a balcony at the Foreign Office alongside the Countess of Wessex.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall earlier attended a ceremony in Auckland as part of their Jubilee tour of New Zealand.

The Duke of Cambridge at the Cenotaph memorial in London on Remembrance Sunday. Credit: PA Wire

Following the silence, Veterans' representatives laid wreaths at the Cenotaph before almost 10,000 ex-servicemen and women marched past to commemorate their fallen comrades.

There was warm applause from the crowd as the parade marched past the giant war memorial, inscribed to the Glorious Dead.

Veterans march at the Cenotaph memorial in London on Remembrance Sunday. Credit: PA Wire

This year's commemoration is especially significant, as it is the first to take place since the death of the last veteran to serve during the First World War on either side, the Royal British Legion said.

Enda Kenny attends Remembrance Day service. Credit: Reuters

In a symbolic visit, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the remembrance service in Enniskillen.

The symbolic visit came as the Co Fermanagh town marked the 25th anniversary of the IRA Poppy Day bomb attack, which claimed the lives of 12 people.

Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to service personnel who have laid down their lives "to protect our way of life and freedom". Addressing a service at St Giles' Church in Edinburgh, he said:

British soldiers in Helmand province, Afghanistan, also commemorated military and civilian servicemen and women killed in conflict, through a poignant service in Lashkar Gah:

Prince Harry, who is currently on active duty in Afghanistan, was not present at the Remembrance Day ceremony alongside the rest of the Royal family.

And across the country, thousands came out to pay their respects. Here are some of the best pictures from today:

In Canterbury:

Canterbury remembers the war dead. Credit: ITV Meridian

In Weston-Super-Mare:

Flag bearers in Weston-super-Mare. Credit: ITV West

Staff and Passengers in the departures lounge at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport observe the two-minute silence for the fallen:

At Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5. Credit: PA

Crowds watching today's service were said to be "the largest yet" according to the Royal British Legion. Thousands of people respected the two-minute silence of Twitter, abstaining from posting messages during the period of reflect.