Website of the UK government

Remembrance Day events in 2009

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh traditionally take a leading role at the national ceremony, held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London. In 2009, they are taking part in the following events:

• Saturday 7 November 2009: Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance - the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7
  
• Sunday 8 November 2009: Remembrance Day Service - the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London SW1
  
• Wednesday 11 November 2009: service to commemorate the passing of the World War One generation - Westminster Abbey, London SW1

You can find out about other public events attended by the royal family on the diary pages of the British Monarchy website.

• British Monarchy Opens new window

Remembrance Sunday - history and traditions

Remembrance Sunday is a day to commemorate Britain's war dead. Also known as known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day, it is held on the second Sunday in November. This is the Sunday closest to 11 November (the date on which the armistice took effect at the end of World War One, in 1918). Events are also held in the week leading up to or just after 11 November.

The Commonwealth and Remembrance Day

In Britain and the Commonwealth, Remembrance Day ceremonies include two minutes of silence to remember the soldiers who died. The red paper poppies that people wear in November are a reminder of the poppies that grew in the Flanders cornfields, where many soldiers fought and died during the first world war.

The famous poem which begins 'In Flanders Fields the poppies blow/ between the crosses, row on row' was written by the Canadian doctor and soldier John McCrae. He wrote the poem after the death of a friend, one of 6,000 Canadian soldiers who died over a two-day period in 1915. Poppies remain a reminder of bloodshed, and of the loss of life suffered by soldiers who have fought in more recent conflicts.

Poppy Day events in the UK

Events are held around the country. Most big towns, and some smaller ones, hold a parade from the town hall to the local war memorial. Wreaths of poppies are often laid at the war memorials. Typically, those who take part include:

• the local mayor
• church members from across all religions
  
• members of the public
  
• members of the armed forces

To find out about events near you, visit the diary or news pages of your local council.

• Local councils (directories section)

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission takes care of memorials in Britain and the Commonwealth to commemorate British soldiers who died during war years. The dates counted as war years for these purposes are slightly different to the usual dates listed:

• World War One: 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921
  
• World War Two: 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947

The War Graves Commission has an archive where members of the public can find out the resting place of a relative killed in action within these dates. On their website they also have a resource for teachers planning a school trip to a war grave.

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission Opens new window