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.
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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.”
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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.
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”.
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.”
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.”
A man has died and 10 people, including five children, have been rescued after a landslide as Storm Bert batters the UK.
A “multi-hazard event” of snow, rain and strong winds caused chaos and disruption on Saturday, with several weather warnings set to remain in place all weekend.
Separate yellow weather warnings for wind are expected to come into force from 11am on Sunday across Northern Ireland and from midday across the Scottish Highlands, with the Met Office warning delays to rail, air and ferry transport are likely.
Hampshire Police said a man in his 60s died after a tree fell on to a car on the A34 southbound near Winchester on Saturday morning.
The force said it was investigating whether the incident was linked to the weather. A yellow warning for rain and wind was in place across the area.
In North Wales, five adults and five children were rescued from a house after a landslide.
A spokesman from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Services said all 10 people were being assessed by ambulance crews away from the scene in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen.
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A further landslide was reported in the area, but it is understood no one else was affected.
In Ireland, at least 11,000 properties were without power going into the evening due to the impact of the storm.
Electricity company ESB Networks said earlier on Saturday at least 60,000 homes, farms, and businesses had been left without power due to the weather.
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Severe flooding in Irish street
“Crews will continue working late into the evening to restore power to most customers currently without supply,” it said.
“While we are doing everything we can, it is anticipated that some customers will be without supply overnight.”
The National Grid’s Electricity Distribution network which connects directly to homes and businesses in the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, confirmed there were 4,345 properties without power.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said his department would be “keeping in close touch with the energy companies”.
A Met Office spokesperson said winds of up to 82mph were recorded in Wales and 13cm of snow fell in Staffordshire on the first day of the weekend.
Two areas in Ireland were issued a rare red warning for heavy rain, which expired at 10am.
London, East Anglia, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Hull and swathes of the Midlands are the only parts of the UK with no current weather warnings in place.
The weather also brought significant disruption to attractions and events, with Edinburgh Zoo and Glasgow Christmas Market closed on Saturday.
Also in Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council cancelled its annual Perth Christmas lights switch-on event over safety and travel concerns.
Blackburn Rovers postponed their Championship match against Portsmouth due to “torrential rain” which made the pitch “unplayable”.
A ‘multiple-hazard event’
Met Office meteorologist Jason Kelly described Storm Bert as a “multiple-hazard event”. Looking towards Sunday, he said rain is expected to become “particularly heavy and persistent”.
Accumulations of 50-75mm are expected to fall across the UK, with some places experiencing up to 100-150mm, Mr Kelly said.
He added: “Rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend may bring flooding for some. Multiple National Severe Weather Warnings are in place and will be added to and amended over the weekend.”
Going into next week, the Met Office predicts sunny spells and showers.
The forecaster says rain and strong winds may reappear on Wednesday, spreading northeast across England and Wales.
Where the warnings are and when
South coast – A yellow warning for wind is in place for the entire south coast of England from 9am until 9pm on Sunday, with a slight chance of damage to buildings and power cuts.
South West – From 6am, a yellow warning for rain is in place in the southwest of England, from Cornwall up to Oxford and stretching to Portsmouth. This is in place until 11.45pm.
Wales – Heavy rain is likely to cause some travel disruption, particularly in South Wales, with a yellow warning across the country lasting 24 hours from 6am this morning.
Midlands, north and Scotland – A yellow warning for rain and snow reaching from Stoke and Nottingham up to all of Scotland started at 4am and stays in place until 9am on Sunday. Manchester, Liverpool and Hull are not affected.
Northern Ireland – A yellow warning for wind comes into force from 11am on Sunday until 6pm, bringing with it the potential of travel disruption.
Scottish Highlands – A second warning will last from midday to midnight on Sunday.
What the weather warnings mean
• Yellow – people are advised to check the details of the forecast and consider extra steps to minimise any impact, while disruption is likely, particularly for travel
• Amber – disruption is more likely and more widespread and people are advised to change plans impacted by weather
• Red – reserved for very dangerous weather that can pose a danger to life and cause substantial travel disruption
The UK is on a “slippery slope towards death on demand”, according to the justice secretary ahead of a historic Commons vote on assisted dying.
In a letter to her constituents, Shabana Mahmood said she was “profoundly concerned” about the legislation.
“Sadly, recent scandals – such as Hillsborough, infected blood and the Post Office Horizon – have reminded us that the state and those acting on its behalf are not always benign,” she wrote.
“I have always held the view that, for this reason, the state should serve a clear role. It should protect and preserve life, not take it away.
“The state should never offer death as a service.”
On 29 November, MPs will be asked to consider whether to legalise assisted dying, through Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
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Minister ‘leans’ to assisted dying bill
Details of the legislation were published last week, including confirmation the medicine that will end a patient’s life will need to be self-administered and people must be terminally ill and expected to die within six months.
Ms Mahmood, however, said “predictions about life expectancy are often inaccurate”.
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“Doctors can only predict a date of death, with any real certainty, in the final days of life,” she said. “The judgment as to who can and cannot be considered for assisted suicide will therefore be subjective and imprecise.”
Under the Labour MP’s proposals, two independent doctors must confirm a patient is eligible for assisted dying and a High Court judge must give their approval.
The bill will also include punishments of up to 14 years in prison for those who break the law, including coercing someone into ending their own life.
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However, Ms Mahmood said she was concerned the legislation could “pressure” some into ending their lives.
“It cannot be overstated what a profound shift in our culture assisted suicide will herald,” she wrote.
“In my view, the greatest risk of all is the pressure the elderly, vulnerable, sick or disabled may place upon themselves.”
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who put forward the bill, said some of the points Ms Mahmood raised have been answered “in the the thorough drafting and presentation of the bill”.
“The strict eligibility criteria make it very clear that we are only talking about people who are already dying,” she said.
“That is why the bill is called the ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’; its scope cannot be changed and clearly does not include any other group of people.
“The bill would give dying people the autonomy, dignity and choice to shorten their death if they wish.”
In response to concerns Ms Mahmood raised about patients being coerced into choosing assisted death, Ms Leadbeater said she has consulted widely with doctors and judges.
“Those I have spoken to tell me that they are well equipped to ask the right questions to detect coercion and to ascertain a person’s genuine wishes. It is an integral part of their work,” she said.
In an increasingly fractious debate around the topic, multiple Labour MPs have voiced their concerns.
In a letter to ministers on 3 October, the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case confirmed “the Prime Minister has decided to set aside collective responsibility on the merits of this bill” and that the government would “therefore remain neutral on the passage of the Bill and on the matter of assisted dying”.
“Immediate action” is being taken after blueprints of jail layouts were shared online.
The maps detailing the layouts of prisons in England and Wales were leaked on the dark web over the past fortnight, according to The Times.
The detailed information is said to include the locations of cameras and sensors, prompting fears they could be used to smuggle drugs or weapons into prisons or help inmates plan escapes.
Security officials are now working to identify the source of the leak and who might benefit from the details.
The Ministry of Justice did not disclose which prisons were involved in the breach.
A government spokesperson said in a statement: “We are not going to comment on the specific detail of security matters of this kind, but we are aware of a breach of data to the prison estate and, like with all potential breaches, have taken immediate action to ensure prisons remain secure.”
The leak comes amid a chronic prison overcrowding crisis, which has led to early release schemes and the re-categorising of the security risks of some offenders to ease capacity pressures.