King Charles remembers the fallen

THE King led the nation in silent and sombre remembrance of the fallen as the last of the Second World War generation went on parade yesterday.

- Richard Palmer

Around a dozen veterans of the conflict joined almost 10,000 former military personnel and others in a march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall after a national service of tribute.

The dozen included nine who took part in the Normandy landings and their aftermath.

In spite of fears that protests connected with the Gaza conflict could clash with the weekend of events, the national two-minute silence was observed immaculately in Whitehall.

Elsewhere, Britain came to a halt in tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

The King, in the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force with greatcoat, poppy and sword, laid a monarch's traditional wreath featuring 41 open-style poppy petals mounted on an arrangement of black leaves.

It was covered in a 27-inch diameter ribbon and bow using the colours of the King's racing silks - scarlet, purple and gold.

Prince William, wearing the officer's cloak of The Blues and Royals, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, also laid a wreath, followed by Prince Edward and Princess Anne.

Queen Camilla, who watched alongside the Princess of Wales from a Foreign Office balcony, had her wreath laid on her behalf by her equerry, Major Ollie Plunket of The Rifles.