Queen Leads Tributes To Britain's War Dead

The Queen has led the nation in the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations in honour of those who have given their lives in war.

Services were held across the country to pay tribute to members of the UK's Armed Forces who have died in conflict.

After a two-minute silence at 11am, the Queen laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in London to honour the fallen.

Other senior royals also left floral tributes at the memorial, including Prince Charles and his son, the Duke of Cambridge.

Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband also laid wreaths at the Cenotaph.

Thousands of ex-servicemen and women attended the traditional ceremony and later staged a march past the Cenotaph.

Forces at Camp Bastion, Britain's largest base in Afghanistan, and other military outposts across the world held their own services.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The public hugely respects and admires what our service people do and the professionalism with which they do it.

"We're here today to remember those who sadly have paid the ultimate price."

Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely, the Royal British Legion's national president, said Remembrance Sunday was a time for the nation to unite in its reverence for our Armed Forces, both past and present.

"When we bow our heads in reflection, we remember those who fought for our freedom during the two World Wars, but we also mourn and honour those who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts," he said.

"Today, with troops on duty in Afghanistan and other trouble spots around the world, remembrance, and the two-minute silence, are as important as ever."

On Saturday night, the Queen was joined by veterans and their families for the annual Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall.

X Factor star Joe McElderry, singer Katherine Jenkins and Sir Cliff Richard performed at the event, as well as a choir made up of the wives of soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

The festival concluded with a two-minute silence as thousands of poppy petals fluttered from the roof, each representing a life lost in war.