King Charles III led a national memorial service in London, honoring those who died in service to the United Kingdom. Despite concerns about potential disruptions due to tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, the event proceeded without incident.
The Metropolitan Police Service deployed an increased number of officers to safeguard the ceremony and placed a 24-hour guard around the national war memorial, the Cenotaph, to prevent defacement. The annual service included a parade of thousands of veterans past the Cenotaph.
The event occurred after debates about whether to cancel a pro-Palestinian march, which took place the day before the memorial, and resulted in clashes between police and far-right counter-protesters. The police arrested approximately 120 individuals, mostly soccer “hooligans,” and nine officers were injured, two of whom were hospitalized.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak laid a wreath at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by those who defended the country. Calls for the dismissal of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, accused of inflaming tensions with her comments about the pro-Palestinian march, continue.
The king, accompanied by other royal family members, participated in the wreath-laying ceremony, and around 10,000 veterans and 800 serving military members marched past the Cenotaph to pay their respects.