### Armistice Day Honoured with Silence and Ceremonies Across the United Kingdom and Europe

In a solemn tribute to those who have lost their lives in war, the UK and Europe observed Armistice Day with two minutes of silence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer participated in a commemorative event in Paris, while Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, led the main ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The day was marked by reverence and remembrance as Sir Keir and the French president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

At 11:00 on the 11th of November, the traditional two-minute silence was observed across the UK, marking the exact time and date when the World War One armistice became effective. Just before the silence at the Arboretum, the Duchess of Edinburgh read an excerpt from Laurence Binyon's 1914 poem "For the Fallen," including the well-known passage, "age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them." Following this, she and Defence Minister Maria Eagle laid poppy wreaths at the site's armed forces memorial.

While Armistice Day originally commemorated those who died in World War One, it has since evolved to honour all who have perished in conflicts. Numerous events took place throughout the UK, including in Bristol, Cambridge, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Dover. In Glasgow Central Station, rail passengers and staff paused to witness a procession led by a piper and veterans through the concourse.

Westminster also held an event, attended by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. In Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council announced it would illuminate County Hall for the evening to remember the sacrifices made by armed forces and those lost in conflicts and acts of terror. Over the weekend, Remembrance Sunday events were held across the UK, with King Charles leading the nation in a two-minute silence to honour men and women who died in the two world wars and other conflicts.

In a notable moment in Belfast, a protest banner was displayed outside the office of Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill after she participated in the city's Remembrance Day service, a first for a senior Sinn Féin figure. The banner included the word "traitors" along with bloody handprints and a poppy. O'Neill described the criticism as "difficult" but reaffirmed her commitment to serving all people in Northern Ireland. Though she was unable to attend an Armistice Day event at Stormont on Monday, other Sinn Féin politicians participated.

Scotland marked the day with silence at 11:00 as politicians and the public gathered at memorials to honour fallen service personnel. The commemorations drew hundreds of residents, veterans, and dignitaries, underscoring the significance of the armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War.