LONDON, November 11 (Reuters) - Millions of Britons observed two minutes' silence on Friday as the nation marked Armistice Day and paid respect to those killed in war.
At 11 a.m., offices and schools joined the annual act of remembrance which marks the time the guns fell silent on the Western front of World War One on November 11, 1918.
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Britain's Prince Harry speaks after laying a wreath on the Armed Forces Memorial during Armistice Day commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Britain, November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Staples[/caption]
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Poppies are thrown in a fountain during an Armistice Day event at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville[/caption]
In Trafalgar Square in central London, traffic came to a halt at one of the capital's busiest tourist sites and crowds were invited to put poppy petals in the square's famous fountains.
Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson who himself served with the British military on two tours of duty in Afghanistan, led commemorations at a service at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in central England.
The Royal British Legion charity, which since 1921 has sold red poppy symbols to raise money for veterans of the armed forces, said this year it wanted people to "rethink Remembrance" to embrace veterans from recent conflicts as well as those who died in the two World Wars.
England and Scotland soccer players are planning to wear poppies during their World Cup qualifier on Friday which could see them in breach of FIFA rules which forbid wearing anything that could be perceived as a political statement.
Armistice Day is followed by Remembrance Sunday on November 13 when the royal family and senior politicians pay their respects at the Cenotaph memorial in central London.
