German president to be among those at wreath-laying at the Cenotaph

BRITAIN will honour its Armed Forces heroes tomorrow as the country marks 100 years since the First World War ended.

Ceremonies at war memorials across the North East will commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in conflict. In Newcastle, a Remembrance Day parade will make its way from the Civic Centre to Eldon Square War Memorial from 10am, ahead of a ceremony and two minutes of silence at 11am.

The memorial will be blanketed in handmade woollen poppies donated by the public to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armistice bringing peace between the Allies and Germany. The peace treaty came into effect at 11am on November 11, 1918.

To mark the centenary, Germany is sending a leader to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in London for the first time.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will perform the duty on behalf of Germany as a historic act of reconciliation. In a role similar to that of the Queen in the UK, Germany’s president represents the country at official gatherings, signs off laws and officially appoints the Chancellor. Prince Charles will also lay a wreath at Whitehall’s Cenotaph, on behalf of the Queen, who will watch Sunday’s service from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s balcony, as she did last year.

After Charles lays his wreath, Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition leaders will leave floral tributes, as will other members of the royal family.

The service in London will be followed by the Nation’s Thank You procession, in which 10,000 people chosen by ballots will walk past the Cenotaph.

In the evening, the Queen, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend a memorial service at Westminster Abbey.

Around the country, hundreds of ‘Battle’s Over’ events will mark the Armistice’s centenary on November 11. Pipers will play, beacons will be lit and church bells will ring in all corners of the UK – and around the world.