A kingdom United in Remembrance: Queen and Kate defy terror threat to lead the country on 100th anniversary of start of First World War. as poignant tributes are held throughout Britain

• Queen led commemorations by laying wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall after two-minute silence at 11am
• She was joined by servicemen, senior royals, party leaders including David Cameron and former PM Tony Blair
• Armed officers stood guard and checked area with trained dogs days after Scotland Yard made four terror arrests
• Prince Harry returned to Afghanistan to lead services with Britain’s few remaining troops on behalf of the Queen
• Services 100 years after First World War and 70 years after D-Day came as Tower of London poppies extended 

The Queen was applauded today in an unprecedented mark of appreciation as she led millions of Britons in remembering the fallen.

The monarch laid a wreath on the Cenotaph at the national Remembrance Day service alongside senior Royals, veterans and the Prime Minister, despite heightened security after police thwarted an alleged terror plot on Thursday.

The spontaneous smattering of applause, as she left Whitehall in central London, was a rare sound for a remembrance service usually characterised by respectful silence, and may have been in tribute to her fortitude at turning out to the service despite terror fears.

Hundreds of services have been held this morning across Britain 100 years after the First World War broke out, 70 years after D-Day and weeks after British troops ended combat operations in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan itself, there was a sombre atmosphere as Prince Harry returned to the country – where he was posted in 2007 and 2012 – to lead services with Britain’s few remaining troops on behalf of the Queen.
The Queen laid wreaths with Prince Charles, Prince William and party leaders including David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, as the Last Post was played alongside pieces by Purcell and Elgar.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was also at the service to pay his respects. Under his leadership, the government began the protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which led to the deaths of more than 630 British troops.
But those who returned from the war found a country riven by its own conflict with Britain. The Irish war of independence would follow and by 1921 the island was partitioned, with the southern 26 counties becoming independent.

For decades the newly-formed state struggled with its people’s role fighting for Britain in the war. Returning soldiers were effectively ostracised and became scared to admit they had participated in the conflict.
Among the few remaining troops in Afghanistan, whose combat role is now officially at an end, there was a sombre atmosphere as they remembered the 13-year fight which claimed more than 450 British lives.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel and civilians gathered for remembrance services in Kabul and Kandahar – likely to be the last involving British military based in Afghanistan.

The ceremony in Camp Souter Kabul today was led by the Reverend Dr Jim Francis CF and attended by personnel from all three services, along with senior representatives from the international coalition.

The Camp Bastion military base in Helmand is due to close in a few weeks’ time and the final British troops are due to be pulled out of Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Speaking after today’s service in Kabul, Brigadier James Stopford said: ‘Our annual remembrance commemorations are always moments of deep reflection as we honour those who have fallen in conflict across the ages.

‘This year is particularly poignant as we mark the centenary of the Great War.

‘For those of us serving here in Afghanistan on operations, we remember with enormous pride the terrible sacrifice by our UK Armed Forces colleagues and those of our coalition partners, and in particular the very brave members of the Afghan security forces.

‘Our shared sacrifice has made a significant difference to this country and ours and continues to do so – we will remember them.’