King leads Remembrance Sunday 2025 at Cenotaph

At 11am on Sunday 9 November 2025, the UK pauses for two minutes. His Majesty The King leads the national silence at the Cenotaph in London, the centrepiece of the National Service of Remembrance. If you’re joining from home or at a local memorial, this guide explains what’s happening and how to take part.

We’ll see senior members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and other political leaders lay wreaths. After the silence, around 10,000 veterans take part in the Royal British Legion’s March Past. It’s a veterans’ parade, with places capped for safety and allocated to reflect the breadth of service across the UK and Commonwealth.

If you’re new to the Cenotaph, here’s the short version: a cenotaph is an “empty tomb”. The Whitehall memorial carries no names and is dedicated simply “To the Glorious Dead”, giving families a place to grieve when many had no grave to visit after the First World War. That is why the national act of remembrance gathers here.

Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November, close to Armistice Day on 11 November. Armistice Day marks the end of First World War fighting at 11am in 1918; today, the two‑minute silence is observed both on 11 November and again at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

This year carries added meaning. In 2025 we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, with national moments earlier in the year for VE Day in May and VJ Day in August. We’re encouraged to remember those who served in Europe and the Far East, and the families who kept life going at home.

What actually happens at the Cenotaph? The silence at 11am is followed by wreath‑laying led by the King and Prime Minister, and then the Royal British Legion’s March Past of veterans. Many towns and villages hold their own short services at local memorials the same morning.

Watching from home is straightforward. Coverage begins at 10:15 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with British Sign Language, audio‑described and commentary‑free streams available; highlights run on BBC Two from 6pm to 7.15pm, and Radio 4 and BBC Sounds carry the service. Sky News and ITV also stream throughout the day.

Taking part is simple wherever you are. Pause what you’re doing at 11am, switch your phone to silent, and use those two minutes to think of a person, a place or a story you’ve learned. The Royal British Legion reminds us the silence is kept at 11am on both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Heading to central London? Arrive early and expect road closures around Whitehall. Transport advice is to check Transport for London and National Rail updates before you travel so you can plan changes between local and national services.

What we remember matters. We honour the Armed Forces community from the UK and Commonwealth, pay tribute to families and emergency services, and acknowledge civilians who lost their lives. Wearing a poppy is your choice; remembrance is personal and inclusive of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.