11:32am UK, Sunday November 08, 2009

Katie Cassidy, Sky News Online

The Queen has led the nation in remembering Britain’s war dead at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony, following a special service in Afghanistan.

Her Majesty was joined by Gordon Brown and opposition party leaders at the wreath-laying event at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

After the Two Minutes’ Silence, the Queen laid the first wreath.

She was followed by the Duke of Edinburgh and other royals including Prince Harry, Prince William, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.

They in turn were followed by Mr Brown, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and defence chiefs.

Earlier today British troops honoured their fallen colleagues at Camp Bastion, where prayer readings were followed by a two-minute silence.

At the service, Camp Bastion’s Chaplain Afghanistan led the tribute: “Today we thank God for those men and women who are willing to die to preserve justice and freedom.

“Let us remember those who today, this very day, are in dangerous places and whose lives are at risk.

“You too are such people. The mere fact that you are in Afghanistan means that you are willing to risk your life to help others.”

In London, thousands of veterans gathered to pay their respects to the fallen.

Approximately 7,500 ex-service men and women and 1,600 civilians were expected to take part in a march past the Cenotaph.

At Saturday night’s annual Festival of Remembrance in London the mounting death toll of British troops in Afghanistan dominated everybody’s thoughts.

There were constant references to events in Afghanistan during the evening.

The audience at the Royal Albert Hall – including the Queen and the Prime Minister – were shown film of operations to fly wounded servicemen back to Britain.

They also viewed interviews with soldiers expressing sadness at the loss of their colleagues.