King Charles to lead Remembrance Day service for first time as monarch – as he follows in Queen’s footsteps
The nation will fall silent today as the King for the first time as monarch leads a moving Remembrance Day service.
King Charles will lay a new poppy wreath incorporating a ribbon of his racing colours, with the design paying tribute to the ones used by both his late mother and his grandfather George VI.
A wreath will also be laid on the Queen Consort’s behalf for the first time as Camilla watches from a balcony.
Queen Elizabeth II, who died nine weeks ago, considered Remembrance Sunday one of the most significant and important engagements in the royal calendar.
It was 50 years ago the then Prince of Wales placed his first wreath at the cenotaph, during the following decades he has always been one step behind his mother developing the deepest appreciation of what his new responsibility to the military means.
“He understands the history and the multitude of connections between the sovereign, the Royal Family and the armed forces far better, I think, than any member of his staff… I think it’s an intrinsic part of his role as King and he understands that there is an indelible link to the armed forces,” Alastair Graham, his former equerry, said.
Mr Graham, who served in the navy for more than 25 years, supported the prince between 2002 and 2004, helping to organise his diary and providing that direct contact with the forces.
During that period, Britain was caught up in the Iraq War, allowing him to see first-hand the now King’s dedication to the military.
Mr Graham told me: “As it had kicked off, the programme [diary] effectively went out the window, and we were tasked to rearrange the programme to make sure that His Majesty could give as much time as possible to the regiments, families that were left behind while they were serving, and maintain very close links through the chiefs of staff to understand what was going on and how the war was progressing in his normal role at that time as Prince of Wales, but clearly one that he would continue as King.”
Queen Elizabeth II during the Remembrance Sunday service in 2020
Those who know him well say his understanding of military life developed early, not just because of the family connections but through his own training with all parts of the armed forces, making him, some would say, the most military-trained King we’ve ever had.
Mr Graham explained: “He trained as a naval officer, he trained as a Royal Air Force pilot, both fixed wing and rotary wing, not simply to gain the badge but to understand the challenges of flying jets and helicopters in the services. He attended parachute company training, so he’s got parachute wings. Again, not to be seen as a hero, but to understand the rigours.”
Since 2017, another duty has been placed on him as the Queen decided it was no longer practical for her to place her own wreath.
It was deeply symbolic that the Queen during her lifetime passed the responsibility to her son – it was a transition happening before our eyes in a way we hadn’t seen before.
It also means on Sunday that while it will be his first time as King, the fact we’ve seen him do it before means it won’t be a complete distraction from those the Royal Family are most keen we all remember.
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This year, almost 10,000 veterans will join the Royal British Legion march past, with 400 Falklands veterans forming the largest contingent watched by an estimated crowd of 10,000 people on Whitehall.
Andrew Lawless whose chinook helicopter crashed during the Falklands conflict 40 years ago will be there for the first time remembering his comrades and says the King’s presence will be appreciated just as much as his mother’s was for so many years.
“He said himself he wants to follow in his mother’s footsteps so his sense of duty and service is definitely there and we know it”, Mr Lawless said, adding, “there is a solemn part to it as well and certainly when I’m marching past the cenotaph there will be names going through my head of friends who can’t be here”.
(L-R) The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex watched from a balcony last year
This weekend, Queen Elizabeth has also been remembered at the field of remembrance at Westminster Abbey, and will also still be a focus at the Cenotaph, as her son, the King, now leads the family and the nation as we all pay tribute to others who’ve served.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This year more than ever, we are reminded of the huge debt of gratitude we owe those who lay down their lives to protect their country.
“As we fall silent together on Remembrance Sunday, we will honour the memories of the men and women we have lost and pay tribute to the brave soldiers of Ukraine as they continue their fight for freedom.”
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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was a time “to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our veterans and service personnel on operations around the world”.
“We must never forget those who gave their lives in defence of our values and our great nation,” he said.
“All of us will also be thinking of those brave Ukrainians who are fighting for their very own survival to defend freedom and democracy for all, just as the UK and Commonwealth soldiers did in both world wars.
“Today, members of the UK armed forces at the Cenotaph and around the world will come together to honour all those who came before them.”
Sir Keir Starmer has joined other European leaders in Kyiv to press Russia to agree an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
The prime minister is attending the summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled to Ukraine at the same time – arriving in the capital by train – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
Leaders arrive in Kyiv by train. Pic: PA
It comes after Donald Trump called for “ideally” a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, and warned that if any pause in the fighting is not respected “the US and its partners will impose further sanctions”.
Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke told Sky News presenter Samantha Washington the European leaders are “rowing in behind” the US president, who referred to his “European allies” for the first time in this context in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“So this meeting is all about heaping pressure on the Russians to go along with the American proposal,” he said.
“It’s the closest the Europeans and the US have been for about three months on this issue.”
Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP
Trump calls for ceasefire. Pic: Truth Social
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days starting on Monday.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement.
European leaders show solidarity – but await Trump’s backing
The hope is Russia’s unilateral ceasefire, such as it’s worth, can be extended for a month to give peace a chance.
But ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian sources told Sky News they are still waiting for President Donald Trump to put his full weight behind the idea.
The US leader has said a 30-day ceasefire would be ideal, but has shown no willingness yet for putting pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin to agree.
The Russians say a ceasefire can only come after a peace deal can be reached.
European allies are still putting their hopes in a negotiated end to the war despite Moscow’s intransigence and President Trump’s apparent one-sided approach favouring Russia.
Ukrainians would prefer to be given enough economic and military support to secure victory.
But in over three years, despite its massive economic superiority to Russia and its access to more advanced military technology, Europe has not found the political will to give Kyiv the means to win.
Until they do, Vladimir Putin may decide it is still worth pursuing this war despite its massive cost in men and materiel on both sides.
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
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The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for a coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
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This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
A special constable has been jailed after taking pictures on his phone from bodycam footage showing a dying man.
Former police volunteer William Heggs, 23, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court on Friday after showing the photos of victim William Harty, 28, to a female colleague and storing them on his Snapchat account.
Mr Harty was found seriously injured in a residential street in Leicester on 25 October 2021 and Heggs had attended the scene, helping with CPR before paramedics arrived.
Mr Harty died in hospital a day later and the man responsible for his injuries, his brother-in-law Martin Casey, was subsequently convicted of his manslaughter.
Heggs showed the pictures he had taken of bodycam footage of Mr Harty’s body to a Leicestershire Police constable, who reported Heggs and said she did not like seeing blood.
His phone was seized and officers discovered other photographs and video clips of bodyworn footage of incidents Heggs had attended on duty, including of a knife seizure, use of baton and pepper spray, and a man with an injured hand receiving first aid.
He also took pictures of a police computer screen, showing details of crimes and suspects, without consent.
Heggs stored the materials in a Snapchat folder and disclosed graphic details – most of which were not in the public domain – about the injuries to a woman who was killed in a road traffic collision he had attended, to a friend on the social media platform.
Heggs was suspended from the force in November 2021 and resigned in October 2024 before pleading guilty to 11 computer misuse and data protection offences this March.
William Harty’s widow Mandy Casey. Pic: PA
‘He has traumatised me’
Mr Harty’s widow, Mandy Casey, said in a victim impact statement read to the court that Heggs “took (her) husband’s dignity when he was most vulnerable”.
“You don’t take someone’s dignity and pride from them on their deathbed.”
She continued: “When I found out special constable Heggs had done this, I just wanted to ask why. He has traumatised me. I feel I will never know if he showed them to others.”
Ms Casey said she was still scared that photos of her husband’s body might appear on social media.
She added that she had lost trust in the police.
Public trust in police ‘significantly undermined’
Judge Timothy Spencer told Heggs, who has autism and ADHD, that he was “probably too immature to be working as a police officer” as he handed down the sentence.
He said Heggs had received “extensive training”, including on the importance of data protection, and knew he should only share materials for “a genuine policing purpose”.
Heggs’s actions had “significantly undermined” public trust and confidence in police, according to the judge.
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Malcolm McHaffie, from the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “William Heggs abused the public’s trust in the office he held as a special police constable.
“He violated the dignity of the deceased victims for no apparent reason other than what could be considered personal fascination and to gain credibility among his peers.”
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