TENS of thousands of veterans and other participants are set to gather in central London this Sunday to honour the nation’s fallen.
Remembrance Sunday falls on November 8 this year, with the traditional service and two-minute silence taking place.
What is Remembrance Day and how does it differ from Remembrance Sunday?
, also known as Armistice Day, is observed across the UK and the Commonwealth every year on November 11. It commemorates the end of the on November 11, 1918.
Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of November to remember and honour the sacrifices made by all those who have served in the military as well as the emergency services.
The National Service of Remembrance takes place on the day, with members of the , the Cabinet and the paying tribute.
Poppy wreaths are laid on war memorials across the country, and a two-minute silence is held at 11am.
What is the Cenotaph Parade?
The Cenotaph Parade is an annual march past of 10,000 veterans and other eligible participants.
It is named after the UK’s national memorial to the dead of the British Empire in the First World War, located on Whitehall in .
The word cenotaph means “empty tomb”, as no one is actually buried within the monument.
The memorial provides a symbolic focus for remembering those who died in a war conflict, particularly those who have no known grave or were buried far from home.
The parade traditionally takes place on Remembrance Sunday after the National Act of Remembrance led by the King.
When does the Cenotaph Parade start and end?
The National Act of Remembrance begins at 11am on Remembrance Sunday with the national two-minute silence.
This is marked by the firing of guns from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on Horse Guards Parade.
The march past begins right after the service concludes at 11.25am, and it lasts around an hour depending on the number of participants.
What is the Cenotaph Parade route?
Tens of thousands of veterans and other participants gather in columns on Horse Guards Parade before moving through Horse Guard Arch to form on Whitehall in time for the arriving at the Cenotaph.
The march past parades down Whitehall, passing the war memorial, before turning right on Great George Street and right again on Horse Guards Road where a member of the Royal Family takes a salute.
All columns are then reformed on Horse Guards Parade, and the National Anthem is played before the parade is dismissed.
What is the full schedule for Remembrance Sunday?
The key timings and events for Remembrance Sunday are listed below:
- 10.50am: Participants make their way to the Cenotaph.
- 11am: The national two-minute silence begins, marked by the firing of guns on Horse Guards Parade and the chimes of Big Ben.
- 11.02-11.25am: The National Service of Remembrance
- 11.25am: Conclusion of the service and the Cenotaph Parade
- around 12.30pm: The National Anthem is played and the parade is dismissed.
How to watch the Remembrance Day parade live?
Members of the public do not need a ticket to attend the National Service of Remembrance and can watch from designated viewing areas in Whitehall.
However, space is limited, so spectators are advised to arrive early.
Since the following march past is a veterans’ parade, civilians cannot take part unless they meet specific eligibility criteria listed on the British Legion’s official website .
The Sun will also be broadcasting a live stream of the parade.
