Prince Charles's tribute in Australia as thousands fall silent to remember war dead

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall today joined Australia’s prime minister and thousands of veterans and their families for an Armistice Day ceremony at the War Memorial in Canberra.

They gathered in heavy rain near the memorial’s parade ground to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The federation guard, which includes servicemen and women from the three branches of the defence force, stood at attention in the forecourt as prime minister Malcolm Turnbull arrived with his wife, Lucy, to bursts of Waltzing Matilda from the army band.

They were followed by the royal couple and the governor general, General Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Queen’s representative.

A didgeridoo also sounded, part of a campaign to highlight the contribution of indigenous Australian troops in the country’s war history.

About 1,500 fought in the First World War, but the total is thought to be higher.

The royal couple placed poppies beside the names of two indigenous Second World War veterans.

Hours later Londoners fell silent to honour the servicemen and women who fought and died for their country. Schools, churches and offices across the capital observed two minutes of silence at 11am, marking the time when Allied Forces declared the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918.

Veterans joined military top brass in Whitehall this morning to pay their respects to those killed in that conflict and in war since.

Other events taking place across the capital today included the Royal British Legion’s Silence in the Square — a series of musical performances readings in Trafalgar Square leading up to the two-minute silence.

The London Community Gospel Choir, Second World War veteran and singer Danny McCrudden and folk singer Seth Lakeman performed along with five-piece band The Overtones. Following the silence, those gathered placed petals in the landmark’s fountains.

The Queen was set to observe the silence privately at Buckingham Palace. She led commemoration events in the capital on Remembrance Sunday.