King Charles to lay wreath and lead nation in Remembrance Sunday silence

King Charles will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and lead the nation in a two-minute silence at 11am to remember the dead who gave their lives in two world wars as well as those who have died in other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will join the king and senior politicians for the national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph to honour all those killed.

The Remembrance Sunday silence marks the historic moment fighting in the first world war came to an end in 1918 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – six hours after the armistice was signed . Armistice Day itself is on Monday this year – 11 November.

About 10,000 veterans will march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations for the Royal British Legion, the charity behind the annual Poppy Appeal .

Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the remembrance event and participate in the two-minute silence, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It is also the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in the second world war this year, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, the 75th anniversary of Nato and the 120th anniversary of the entente cordiale between the UK and France.

More than 800 sailors, soldiers and aviators are expected to be on duty at the Cenotaph and at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

The prime minister said the "courage and sacrifice of so many over the generations" brings the country together "in a spirit of the most profound gratitude and respect".

Keir Starmer said: "This weekend, we come together to honour those who laid down their lives to keep our country safe.

"The freedoms we enjoy today – our democracy, our values, our way of life – have been hard-won over generations.

"We are forever in debt to those brave souls who fought to defend this country, and who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"We honour them today and always. We remember them today and always."

In total, nearly 6,000 personnel will be deployed on operations and overseas bases around the world on Remembrance Sunday."

The defence secretary, John Healey, said it was a "duty" to "educate future generations about their courage and commitment to defending Britain".

He added: "On Remembrance Sunday, we unite behind our armed forces community and honour those who gave their lives for our freedom.

"We think of those who fell liberating Europe on D-day 80 years ago. And we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the conflicts before and since."

Kemi Badenoch, who will be attending the event as Conservative leader for the first time, said: "We owe so much to our armed forces and the families who support them", adding that she wanted to "pay tribute to those who have fallen".

The DCMS said "people of all ages" would be among those marching, from the bereaved British forces children supported by the Scotty's Little Soldiers charity through to the D-day veterans of the Spirit of Normandy Trust .

The defence minister Al Carns, who served in Afghanistan, will also parade past the Cenotaph as part of the Royal Marines Association.

Philippa Rawlinson, the director of remembrance at the Royal British Legion, said: "We owe those who choose to serve in the armed forces our gratitude and this weekend we encourage people to take a moment to reflect and remember their service."