Prince Charles takes over wreath-laying at Whitehall
THE Prince of Wales has led the nation in honouring the country’s war dead on Remembrance Sunday, as the Queen observed the service from a balcony.
The Queen asked Charles to lay her wreath at the Cenotaph, in what is believed to be the first time the monarch has broken with tradition and not performed the symbolic duty when at the Whitehall service.
A two-minute silence took place at 11am and wreaths were laid at the foot of the Whitehall memorial by senior royals and political leaders including Prime Minister Theresa May, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh watched the service from a Foreign and Commonwealth Office balcony.
Buckingham Palace announced the change last month, which is seen as an example of the subtle shift of head of state duties from the Queen to the heir to the throne.
After the ceremony, thousands of veterans from the Second World War, and more recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan, marched past the Cenotaph.
Mrs May said: “This time of year should remind us that our way of life is only made possible by the bravery of the men and women who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. We should also take great pride in the way we come together as a nation to honour the fallen.”