Second world war veterans honoured as King leads Remembrance Sunday

Published: 10 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Veterans of the Second World War received warm applause as they arrived for the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, joined by members of the royal family and senior politicians to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in conflicts across generations.

King Charles laid the first wreath in recognition of those who died in wars dating back to the First World War. Following tradition, he wore a field marshal uniform, the army’s highest rank, and saluted before observing a two-minute silence. The Prince of Wales, dressed in Royal Air Force uniform with the rank of wing commander, followed suit, saluting after laying his wreath at the Cenotaph.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer also laid a floral tribute, accompanied by senior politicians including Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood, Lindsay Hoyle, and representatives from the Commonwealth. Starmer highlighted the courage of the armed forces, saying: “This Remembrance Sunday, we pause as a nation to honour all those who have served our country. We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.”

Marking the 80th anniversary of the Second World War, Starmer paid tribute to the generation who “stood against tyranny and shaped our future,” emphasizing that such sacrifices demand more than silence. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting veterans, their families, and those currently serving.

Observing the service from a balcony at the Foreign Office were the Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, and other royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and the Duchess of Edinburgh. Alongside them, eight former prime ministers—John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak—stood close to the Cenotaph.

In Scotland, First Minister John Swinney led commemorations at the Stone of Remembrance outside the City Chambers in Edinburgh. Across the UK, 10,000 armed forces personnel participated in the Royal British Legion’s annual march past, including a small group of Second World War veterans marking the 80th anniversary since the conflict’s end in 1945. Applause rang out along Whitehall as veterans, some in wheelchairs, saluted the crowd.

Among those present was 101-year-old Donald Poole, a Royal Army Ordnance Corps technician who served in India in 1945 when Japan surrendered. Reflecting on the occasion, Poole said, “It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts, and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present. I also want to pay tribute to the civilian services who suffered during the Second World War, particularly the fire service, who saved so many lives during the Blitz—many of whom lost their own.”

Other veterans attending included Henry Rice, who arrived off Juno Beach five days after D-Day, and Mervyn Kersh, who reached Normandy three days after the start of the invasion. Sid Machin, a Chindit special forces soldier from the Burma campaign, also marched; at 101 years old, he is among the last surviving members of his unit. Machin recalled his wartime service at just 19, operating behind enemy lines in a glider at night to disrupt Japanese supply routes and infrastructure.

Commemorations were not limited to London. Across villages, towns, and cities throughout the UK, war memorials became sites of reflection, where communities gathered to honour the memory of those who gave their lives in service, ensuring that the sacrifices of past generations are remembered for years to come.