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Remembrance
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The two minutes silence I The
early years I The national ceremony I The
laying of wreaths I The service I The
march past
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Remembrance - The
laying of wreaths
The ceremony begins at 10:35 hours. The massed bands of the Guards
Division under their Senior Director of Music commence playing a
number of solemn melodies; Rule Britannia, Heart of
Oak, The Minstrel Boy, Men of Harlech, The Skye Boat Song, Isle of
Beauty etc. The faith representatives, accompanied by the children
and choristers of the Chapel Royal, exit the Old Home Office and
take their places. They are followed by the General Officer Commanding
(GOC) London District and his staff, politicians representing the
main political parties and the Chiefs of Staff of the Ministry of
Defence (MOD). The music ceases at 10:58 hours and the Service contingents
on parade are brought to Attention.
At 10:59 hours, Her Majesty The Queen
exits the Old Home Office and takes her place, accompanied
by senior members of the Royal Family and Equerries
bearing the wreaths to be laid. On the first stroke
of Big Ben at 1100 hours, a round is fired by a field
gun on Horse Guards Parade Ground. This signals the
start of the two-minute silence. After two minutes,
another round is fired to signal its end. Immediately
after this round, buglers of the Royal Marines sound Last
Post. |
Her Majesty then lays a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph
and bows, followed one by one, by other adult members of the immediate Royal
Family, who bow if in civilian dress, or salute if in military uniform. The
Royal Family lay their wreaths in silence. Once this is completed, the parade
is ordered to Stand at Ease and the massed bands strike up Beethoven's Funeral
March. The Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition and leaders of
other political parties then lay wreaths, followed by the High Commissioners
of the nations of the Commonwealth, followed by the Chiefs of Staff of the
Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, then the representatives of the Merchant
Navy and Fishing Fleets, the Merchant Air Service and the Civilian Services
alternately represented by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary or the Chief
Inspector of Fire Services.
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