Armistice Day: UK holds two-minute silenceon November 11, 2022 at 11:37 am

The UK will mark Armistice Day with a two-minute silence on Friday.

This year’s commemorations to remember the war dead will include the recently restored Big Ben striking 11 times.

The silence is held every year at 11:00 GMT on 11 November to mark the end of World War One in 1918.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that “as we salute our troops” this year, “Ukraine’s fight for freedom” will also be remembered.

Mr Cleverly will attend a remembrance service by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

In a statement issued ahead of his visit, Mr Cleverly said that the work of the “brave men and women who have served to give us peace” has “been shattered by a Russian aggressor”.

“The UK stands steadfast with our friends and allies in defence of freedom and democracy in Ukraine and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with an historic ally in Paris,” he added.

Mr Cleverly will also meet with French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and the pair will discuss, amongst other issues, the two countries’ support for Ukraine.

While Armistice Day will be observed with a silence on Friday, the UK will pay further tributes with services on Sunday, including one attended by the Royal Family at the Cenotaph – the first since the death of the Queen.

During the service, which the Prince and Princess of Wales will also attend, King Charles will lay a poppy wreath incorporating a ribbon of his racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold.

Royal racing colours were also incorporated into the wreaths of the late Queen, George V and George VI.

A wreath will also be laid on behalf of Queen Consort for the first time, while she watches from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.

Prince William will lay a wreath previously laid by his father, featuring the white Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.

Big Ben will strike 11 times at 11:00 GMT on Friday and also on Remembrance Sunday to mark the beginning of the two minutes silence.

The bell has been largely silent for five years after it was dismantled and repaired in a renovation project.

During her 70-year reign the late Queen, who lived through World War Two, only missed seven Remembrance services – including in 2021 due to a back sprain.

The Royal Family will also attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening.

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve them for future generation.

Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has already spoken to many men and women who served during the War – you can watch their testimonies here.

We Were There aims to collect as many first-hand accounts as possible by 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, to preserve veterans’ accounts for future generations.

Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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