Queen leads Remembrance Sunday tributes to war dead

Queen Elizabeth II during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 08, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Queen has led the nation in marking Remembrance Sunday, as people around the UK privately paid their respects at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 94-year-old monarch was joined by family members and the Prime Minister in commemorating the nation’s war dead at the scaled-back service at the Cenotaph in London.

The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex laid wreaths at the ceremony, which was held outdoors with guests required to observe social distancing.

The public were unable to attend this year, with the event taking place during a second national lockdown in England, and were instead encouraged to take part in the two-minute silence at 11am at home.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon lays a wreath in the Crypt of the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle.

In other years, Whitehall is usually packed with thousands of veterans and military, but on Sunday less than 30 veterans were in attendance.

In Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon laid a wreath on behalf of the nation at the War Mewmorial at Edinburgh Castle.

She also a reading during the National Service of Remembrance – which was closed to the public due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In London The Queen, dressed in a black hat and coat, looked on from a balcony with Lady-in-Waiting Susan Rhodes at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building, as Charles laid a wreath on her behalf.

Veteran Charlie MacVicar, who served for 23 years with Royal Scots (Edinburgh Unit) pays his respects at the Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden in Grangemouth - Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall looked on from a separate balcony, while the Countess of Wessex and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were on a third balcony.

The Duke of York did not take part in the event, having stepped down from official royal duties following fierce criticism after his Panorama interview about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.