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Remembrance Day 2012: Queen Elizabeth II Leads Tributes

Queen Elizabeth Leads Tributes On Remembrance Day
Agence France Presse
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The queen and armed forces veterans led Britain in honouring the nation's wartime dead on Sunday as annual Remembrance Day services were held across the country.

The monarch laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph memorial in central London, followed by Prince Phillip, to commemorate those who died fighting in all conflicts since World War One.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other senior members of the royal family were joined by Prime Minister David Cameron, military chiefs, servicemen and women and thousands of spectators in paying their respects.

A two-minute silence was observed at Whitehall and around the country, beginning as the first stroke of 11am sounded at nearby Big Ben.

Thousands also fell quiet on social networking site Twitter, using the hashtag #2minutesilence ahead of observing the silence.

Wreaths were also laid by Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Plaid Cymru's Westminster parliamentary group leader Elfyn Llwyd, as well as high commissioners from Commonwealth countries and leaders of the armed forces.

Thousands of people gathered in Glasgow's George Square to remember fallen soldiers while in Wales, hundreds of people turned out at Cathays Park in Cardiff, in solemn reflection and prayers for peace.

In Northern Ireland, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland Taoiseach Enda Kenny laid a wreath at a remembrance service in Enniskillen in a historic first.

Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, earlier attended a ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand, as part of their Jubilee tour.

The royals sat with New Zealand's prime minister John Key, veterans from across the decades, and members of the public around the Auckland Cenotaph.

The Duke of Kent was also overseas, representing the queen at a service in the Falkland Islands.

Copyright (2012) AFP. All rights reserved.

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Before You Go

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