We will remember them: Charles leaves tributes on Armistice Day as Big Ben rings out for the first time in five years

11 November 2022, 11:02 | Updated: 11 November 2022, 12:53

People across the UK have fallen silent to mark Armistice Day on Friday, marking the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Poignant services were held across the country and a two-minute silence was observed at 11am to remember those who have died in military conflicts.

King Charles and the Queen Consort shared a moving photo of them viewing war graves, captioned: "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today".

Big Ben sounded 11 times, after years of restoration work, to mark the event.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the National Memorial Arboretum Armistice Day Service in Staffordshire and services were also held in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Portsmouth.

In Edinburgh, the city's depute lord provost, councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, joined veterans, serving personnel and the public to pay tribute at the city's Garden of Remembrance.

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The short open-air service led by Legion Scotland National Padre Rev Dr Karen Campbell was followed by the laying of wreaths before the One O'Clock Gun fires at 11am from Edinburgh Castle.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly attended a remembrance service hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer marked the moment at Euston Station, in central London.

Ahead of the service, Mr Cleverly said peace in Europe had been "shattered" by Vladimir Putin.

"Since 1918 we have marked Armistice Day and paid tribute to the brave men and women who have served to give us peace," he said.

"Yet as we salute our troops this year, this peace has been shattered by a Russian aggressor.

"As we honour the war dead of the past, we also remember Ukraine's fight for freedom today.

"The UK stands steadfast with our friends and allies in defence of freedom and democracy in Ukraine and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with an historic ally in Paris today."

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Mr Cleverly will also meet with French foreign minister Catherine Colonna whilst in Paris.

They are expected to discuss the two countries' support for Ukraine, joint work to improve energy security and illegal migration, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said.

They will also discuss preparations for next year's UK-France summit, it added.

The Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiegne to end the First World War in 1918.