Europe marks Armistice Day with two-minute silence

Armistice Day has been observed with two minutes of silence throughout the UK and in various parts of Europe.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended an event in Paris, while Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, presided over a ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Sir Keir and the president of France placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Throughout the UK, people took part in the customary two-minute silence at 11:00 on November 11. This moment commemorates the time and date when the armistice that ended World War One was signed.

Right before the moment of silence at the National Memorial Arboretum, the duchess shared a segment from the 1914 poem "For the Fallen," composed by Laurence Binyon. This included the well-known lines, "age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

She and Defence Minister Maria Eagle placed poppy wreaths at the memorial honoring the armed forces at the site.

Initially established to honor the soldiers who lost their lives in World War One, Armistice Day has since evolved into a day to remember everyone who has died in conflicts throughout history.

In addition to the event in Staffordshire, several other events were held throughout the UK, including locations such as Bristol, Cambridge, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Dover.

At Glasgow Central Station, passengers and employees took a moment to observe as a bagpiper guided a group of veterans through the main hall.

A gathering took place at Westminster, where Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was present.

In Carmarthenshire, Wales, the County Council announced that it plans to light up County Hall on the evening of Armistice Day. This initiative aims to honor and remember the sacrifices made by our military personnel, as well as all those who have lost their lives due to conflicts and acts of terrorism.

This past weekend, various Remembrance Sunday ceremonies took place throughout the UK, following the annual tradition of observing this day on the Sunday nearest to November 11th.

King Charles directed the country in a two-minute moment of silence to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the two world wars and other conflicts.

In Belfast, a demonstration banner was displayed outside the office of Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, in response to her choice to participate in the Remembrance Day event on Sunday.

She was the first prominent member of Sinn Féin to take this step, and the banner that was later displayed on the shutters of her office in Cookstown, County Tyrone, included the term "traitors" along with bloodstains and a poppy.

When O'Neill was questioned about the banner, she admitted it was "hard" to deal with the backlash regarding her choice to participate in the memorial. However, she expressed her dedication to serving as a first minister for everyone.

She mentioned that she wouldn't be able to be at the Armistice Day event in Stormont later on Monday, but other members of Sinn Féin would be there to represent the party.