Remembrance Sunday: Kate joins Queen Camilla in paying tribute to Britain's fallen heroes as King Charles and Prince William lead the nation in emotional memorial service at the Cenotaph

By SAM LAWLEY, NEWS REPORTER and NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 20:57 GMT, 8 November 2026

Kate Middleton joined Queen Camilla in paying tribute to Britain's fallen heroes as King Charles and Prince William led the nation in an emotional memorial service at the Cenotaph this morning for Remembrance Sunday.

Thousands of mourners, including Andy Burnham attending the first service of his premiership, bowed their heads as they observed a two-minute silence during the ceremony on Whitehall.

The senior royals, as well as a host of politicians past and present, laid wreathes at the Cenotaph before an impeccably observed silence and a stirring rendition of the Last Post.

About 10,000 veterans took part in the Royal British Legion's march past, with over 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations represented.

People of all ages marched on Whitehall today – from bereaved children and military cadets, through to some of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War.

Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh and other royals also paid their respects today, while the Queen and the Princess of Wales watched on from the Foreign Office balcony. 

Elsewhere, mourners gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent from 8am ahead of a 10am service.

Big Ben lights up with the faces of World War One heroes for Remembrance Day

Kate and Queen watch on as King and William lead service

The Princess of Wales watched stoically on from the Foreign Office balcony this morning, joining Queen Camilla at the vantage point.

Below, the King and Prince William laid wreathes and observed a two-minute silence alongside thousands of mourners on Whitehall.

She paid tribute to family members, opting to wear Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and the HMS Glasgow Brooch, an impressive item created by James Porter & Son and gifted to Kate.

Kate also chose a three poppy pin, which is believed to represent her great uncles (her great-grandmother's three brothers) who died in action during World War I.

The Queen also wore a three poppy pin. Buckingham Palace has never officially confirmed why royals make this gesture, but it is believed to be intended to represent three primary branches of the UK Armed Forces: The British Army, The Royal Navy, and The Royal Air Force.

Prince William lays wreath at the Cenotaph

The Prince of Wales, wearing the uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel of the household cavalry, sporting a long black cloak and sword saluted after laying his wreath at the Cenotaph.

William, who in 2013 completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time operational military service, promotes the roles and welfare of current and former service personnel as a key part of his work.

He was followed by wreaths being laid by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.

Onlookers react to Harry's surprise appearance at town memorial service

Onlookers have reacted to Harry's unexpected appearance at a memorial service in Brackley, Northamptonshire, today.

One said: 'He was at the memorial service – he was stood next to the pub.

'He was stood there watching and then afterwards he went into the market and started shaking everyone's hand.

'He was there for the whole service – we were there for 20 or 30 minutes, and he was there before us. He just wanted to show some respect.

'It is a shame. At the end of the day he's served so why can't he show his respects.'

Harry served in the military for more than ten years and rose to the rank of Captain, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan during his service.

Prince Harry quietly attends memorial service in small town

Prince Harry was spotted quietly attending a Remembrance Sunday memorial service in a small town - while his father and brother were joined by Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla at the Cenotaph.

The Duke of Sussex marked the first Remembrance Sunday since he and Meghan Markle returned to the UK by keeping a low profile at an event in Brackley, Northamptonshire.

Harry stood alongside locals in the market town this afternoon while wearing his military medals and a poppy.

Army sets out plans for 10,000 new troops amid warnings UK must be ready for war within 1,000 days

Plans for a dramatic increase in the size of the British Army are being drawn up amid warnings that the UK must be ready for war in 1,000 days.

The Mail on Sunday has been told that military chiefs want to recruit 10,000 more soldiers over three years, at a total cost of £800 million.

Sources claimed last night the proposals – also including new equipment such as weapons and body armour – would be put to the Government for formal approval 'in the New Year'.

The British Army now stands at around 75,000 soldiers – its smallest since the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s – but of these about 8,000 are said to be currently unable to fight on medical grounds.

Plans to expand the numbers came to light after Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that Russia's growing threats to Nato allies meant the UK had to be ready to fight 'in a little over 1,000 days'.

Read more:

Oldest veteran had never been to Cenotaph before

The oldest Second World War veteran present today was nicknamed 'Lucky' during the war and had never been to the Cenotaph before.

Jeffrey Brereton, 105, was a Royal Air Force mechanic in the Second World War, before leaving the army to join the fire service in 1946.

He said: 'I just wanted to do something better than when I was back at home.

'I always fancied myself as a mechanic helping the pilots on fighter aircraft and the opportunity came.'

Mr Brereton added: 'I didn’t have any basic training at all with the RAF; it was just straight in.'

He added with pride that his grandson is following in his footsteps as a firefighter.

WATCH: Labour minister accused of using Remembrance Sunday for 'EU membership pitch'

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy today said she was 'horrified' by a claim she is using Remembrance Sunday to launch 'an EU membership pitch'.

Ms Nandy had previously said:

As we remember the immense courage of those who served our country, we honour them by building the best opportunities for the next generation through closeness and collaboration with our allies.

Bradford veteran, 105, reunited with RAF uniform in time for Remembrance Sunday

A 105-year-old World War II veteran was reunited with an RAF uniform in time for Remembrance Sunday.

Former tailgunner Ronnie Holdsworth completed 32 sorties while serving with No. 158 squadron of Bomber Command.

Mr Holdsworth, from Bradford, who is believed to be one of the last remaining Bomber Command crew members still alive, had hoped to fly back to the UK to attend his 80th Remembrance Sunday.

But when doctors in the US deemed him unfit to fly, his family decided to hand-deliver an RAF uniform to his care home in Bakersfield, California.

Former Deputy PM David Lammy pays tribute to 'those who keep us safe'

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy shared a post on X this afternoon - paying tribute to 'those who keep us safe'.

Striking scenes on streets of Edinburgh amid 'shared hope for a peaceful future'

There were striking scenes in Edinburgh today as marching bands led a parade in memory of the fallen.

A military band and members of the RAF Central Scotland Pipes and Drums were among those who took to the streets for the occasion.

The CEO of The Royal British Legion Scotland, Dr Claire Armstrong, OBE, said:

From the First World War to the complex conflicts of today, our duty to remember those who served remains absolute.

Generation after generation, members of our Armed Forces community have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and defend our way of life. We carry their legacy forward not just through modern remembrance, but by actively renewing our shared hope for a peaceful future.