THE BIG PICTURE

The Armistice celebrations outside Buckingham Palace

Jubilant crowds gather at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the signing of the Armistice

After four long and painful years, Britons awoke on 11 November 1918 to discover that the First World War was drawing to a close. Following the signing of an Armistice agreement at 5am, hostilities on the Western Front finally came to an end at 11am. As the news began to filter through, thousands of people took to the streets to embrace, dance and sing with strangers. The scenes were particularly triumphant in the capital, where large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to watch the Royal Family appear on the balcony and join in with the impromptu festivities.