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As it happenedended

Remembrance Day: World leaders, royals and the public mark 100th anniversary of the Armistice

10,000 people march through London to honour the fallen

Zamira Rahim
Sunday 11 November 2018 16:46 GMT
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World leaders, including Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, join for Armistice centenary in Arc de Triomphe ceremony

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Thousands of people across the world gathered in capitals, beside monuments and in front of their leaders to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Services of remembrance were held in Australia, New Zealand and Commonwealth nations, as tens of thousands of people paused to reflect on the innumerable lives given to a conflict a century ago.

Some 12,000 people, including veterans and serving soldiers, gathered for a national ceremony of remembrance at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Commemorations started in the UK at dawn with hundreds of bagpipers across the country playing a lament at 6am.

In Paris, at the biggest of the events marking the occasion, over 100 world leaders and dignitaries walked towards the Arc de Triomphe to stand before the grave of the unknown soldier.

French president Emmanuel Macron made a speech warning against the dangers of nationalism, in what was interpreted as a veiled criticism of US President Donald Trump, who was among the gathered dignitaries.

Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and Justin Trudeau were also present.

"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism," Mr Macron said.

"Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. In saying 'Our interests first, whatever happens to the others,' you erase the most precious thing a nation can have, that which makes it live, that which causes it to be great and that which is most important: Its moral values."

In the UK Prince Charles laid a wreath at the cenotaph in London on behalf of his mother.

The Queen watched from a nearby balcony, flanked by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall.

In an historic first Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, also laid a wreath during the ceremony.

It is the first time that a German representative has done so.

Officials said that Mr Steinmeier's presence during the ceremony was a sign of the friendship that now exists between Germany and Britain.

Following the National Service of Remembrance at the cenotaph, 10,000 people marched past the monument and through London, in tribute to those who served in the First World War.

At 7pm on Sunday 1,000 beacons across the UK will also be lit to mark the occasion.

Remembrance ceremonies were also held in Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and on a number of South Pacific Islands.

If you want to read how Remembrance Day unfolded live, please see what was our live coverage below:

Almost 1.5 million Indian soldiers fought for the UK in the First World War. 

The Royal British Legion created the red Khadi cotton poppy this year to honour their contribution: 

matt.payton111 November 2018 14:57

Donald Trump has thanked Emmanuel Macron for welcoming over a hundred dignitaries in a "beautiful ceremony" in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. 

He is now visiting the Suresnes American Cemetery on the outskirts of the French capital. 

matt.payton111 November 2018 15:07

Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative MP, has laid a Khadi poppy wreath at the India Gate, a war memorial in New Delhi. 

The gesture marks the contribution of over a million Indian soldiers who fought for Britain during the First World War. 

matt.payton111 November 2018 15:15

1,000 beacons will be lit across the UK at 7pm this evening to mark Remembrance Day.

The beacons will symbolise the "light of hope" that emerged after the end of the First World War a century ago today, according to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

matt.payton111 November 2018 15:27

The Queen and senior royals will attend a special service in Westminster Abbey this evening to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. 

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, will also be present.

matt.payton111 November 2018 15:37

Donald Trump has said that victory came at a "terrible cost" to the allied forces that fought and died in the First World War. 

He was speaking during an appearance this afternoon at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial in Paris, where more than 1,500 US servicemen are buried.

matt.payton111 November 2018 15:51

A former Gurkha soldier has planted a poppy at the peak of Ama Dablam, a Himalayan mountain in the eastern region of Nepal. 

Nims Purja, 35, said he wanted to do something "very special" to mark the centenary of the Armistice. 

He joined the Brigade of Gurkhas in 2003 before joining the Royal Marines.

matt.payton111 November 2018 16:03

Emmanuel Macron has opened a peace conference in Paris to mark the centennial of the end of the First World War.

Mr Macron said that the meeting of 84 world leaders was an historic moment. 

Angela Merkel made an impassioned plea for global cooperation at the event. 

She denounced "national vaingloriousness and military arrogance" that had led to the "senseless bloodshed" of two world wars.

The German Chancellor also warned that "lack of communication and unwillingness to compromise" can have deadly consequences, in remarks that have been seen as a veiled dig at Donald Trump.

matt.payton111 November 2018 16:11

The Duke of York is in Belfast, where he will attend a service at St Anne's Cathedral for the centenary of Armistice Day.

It is taking place alongside services in Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff.

matt.payton111 November 2018 16:21

Two female rights activists who earlier ran at the motorcade carrying Donald Trump to Paris' Armistice Day ceremony, have been detained by French police. 

Read more about the protesters here: 

matt.payton111 November 2018 16:31

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