Armistice Day: How the centenary of the end of WWI is being marked

Events in Britain and around Europe are taking place to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.

On this day in 1918, world leaders signed the Armistice ending the war and its four years of bloody conflict.

In Britain, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family joined thousands at the Cenotaph to remember the fallen of all conflicts.

Here is how Armistice Day was marked around the world:

London

At 11am, church bells rang across the country at the same time as a national remembrance service at the Cenotaph in London.

Prince Charles led the nation’s tributes by laying a wreath on behalf of his mother for the second year in a row.

An equerry laid a wreath on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen watched the Whitehall service from the balcony of the nearby Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

For the first time, a German leader laid a wreath at the Cenotaph.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier performed the duty on behalf of his nation in an historic act of reconciliation between the two countries.

Big Ben struck at 11am to mark the hour the Armistice was signed.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also attended.

After the wreath laying and the traditional Royal British Legion’s Veterans Parade, bells rang across the country and internationally as they did a century ago to mark the Armistice.

The People’s Procession of 10,000 people were invited to march past the Cenotaph and pay their respects.

Flames will light up the moat around the Tower of London at 5pm.

:: Sand portraits of the fallen etched on UK beaches

The day will conclude with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey from 6pm.

France

The Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees in Paris staged the biggest event.

It was attended by up to 70 world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Russia President Vladimir Putin.

The ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Champs-Elysees avenue commenced at 11am.

In his speech, France President Emmanuel Macron warned about the fragility of peace and the dangers of nationalism.

He said: “The traces of this war never went away.

“The old demons are rising again. We must reaffirm before our peoples our true and huge responsibility.”

Elsewhere in France there was a 10.30am ceremony at the Australian National Memorial, in Villers-Bretonneux, Somme.

A parade at the Thiepval Memorial to the missing in the Somme also took place at 10.40am and a ceremony at Newfoundland Memorial Park began at 11am.

Scotland

First minister Nicola Sturgeon began the day by laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh, before attending a service at the city’s St Giles Cathedral.

At 4pm, Ms Sturgeon and the Princess Royal attended a memorial service at Glasgow cathedral.

More than 100 wreaths will be laid at the Edinburgh ceremony, where Ms Sturgeon was joined by members of the armed forces and fellow politicians.

The city will then thank all those who served with a procession and service of commemoration in the Old Town.

Elsewhere, a two-minute silence was observed at 11am at the cenotaph in Glasgow’s George Square.

Lord Provost Eva Bolander, in her role as Lord Lieutenant, led the proceedings and a guard of honour will be provided by the 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

She will accompany the Princess Royal at an afternoon cathedral service.

At the University of Glasgow, just before 11am, three guns were fired a total of six blank rounds in 15-second intervals from the grounds, before falling silent.

Parades were also held in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.

An afternoon concert kicked off at 1.45pm at former Craiglockhart Military Hospital, Edinburgh, where shell-shocked officers including Wilfred Owen were treated.

Ireland

President Michael D Higgins led the state commemorations to mark Armistice Day during a ceremony at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

It included unveiling of Victoria Cross commemorative plaques and wreath-laying ceremonies.

Irish leader Leo Varadkar represented Ireland at the Armistice centenary commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Elsewhere, ceremonies have been held in Enniskillen, the first town on the island to proclaim the Armistice in 1918.

Northern Ireland

The main remembrance ceremony was held at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall at 11am – attended by Irish tanaiste Simon Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley.

At around 7pm, a beacon will be lit at a public event in the City Hall grounds.

Elsewhere, a centenary Armistice Day service will be held at St Anne’s Cathedral at 3.30pm.

The Royal Naval Association held its annual remembrance service parade from its headquarters on Great Victoria Street at 10.30am.

Wales

First Minister Carywn Jones will attend a memorial service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, will represent the UK government at the remembrance service and will be joined by the Earl and Countess of Wessex and other guests.

In Newport, a range of events will take place, including a performance of The Last Post by Gwent Music Brass Ensemble bugler Alex Linton. It will be followed by a lighting of the beacon at the Queen Elizabeth II playing field in Ringland at 7pm.

Belgium

A remembrance ceremony was held at the municipal cemetery of Mons at 10.30am.

In the afternoon, a large parade with all Canadian regiments succeeding those who participated in “The Pursuit to Mons” will take place in memory of their passage through the Grand Palace.

The Last Post service took place at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Flanders at 11am.

Poland

The Polish president led solemn state ceremonies in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate 100 years since Poland regained its independence at the end of the First World War.

President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawecki and other top Polish leaders gathered in central Warsaw to mark the rebirth of the nation on 11 November 1918.

A military band played as a crowd with the country’s red and white colours sang the national anthem at noon in Warsaw.

Mr Duda also gave a speech in which he appealed for national unity.

(c) Sky News 2018: Armistice Day: How the centenary of the end of WWI is being marked