Remembrance Sunday at The Cenotaph in London: When is the service and do you need tickets?

The National Service of Remembrance will be held at The Cenotaph this weekend.

The annual event takes place on Remembrance Sunday each year - November 12 in 2023 - at Whitehall in London. Members of the royal family will take part and pay tributes alongside members of the government, opposition party leaders, former prime ministers and mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Representatives of the armed forces and the merchant navy will be there, as well as faith communities and high commissioners of Commonwealth countries. Veterans will march past the Cenotaph during the service.

Another event, the Festival of Remembrance will take place at Royal Albert Hall on Saturday (November 11).

Do you need tickets for the service?

Members of the public do not need tickets to watch the ceremony from the streets in London. But you may have to arrive early to ensure a spot to view the event.

When is the Cenotaph Remembrance Service? What is the timetable?

The following is the timetable for the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday November 12 at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London:

• 8am: Whitehall opens to the public. Space will be limited. Please allow time to clear the police security procedures.
• 10.30am onwards: All detachments form up on the Cenotaph.
• 10:50 onwards: Participants process out onto the Cenotaph.
• 11am: National two-minute silence marked by the firing of guns from King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade. Cenotaph Service commences.
• 11.25am: Cenotaph Service concludes and the Royal British Legion detachments disperse past the Cenotaph.

BBC One Remembrance Sunday coverage

David Dimbleby will present live coverage of Remembrance Sunday from Whitehall, beginning at 10.15am on BBC One. The programme is scheduled to run until 12.50pm.

Can you take part in the service?

Veterans are able to apply to take part in the Remembrance Service at The Cenotaph each year. It is limited to 10,000 participants, the RBL confirms.

On its website, the RBL says: "Each year, veterans participate in the March Past. Places to take part in the Cenotaph March Past on Remembrance Sunday 2023 will be allocated through service and unit associations. This year, for the first time, applications will also be open to veterans who are not members of an association.

"The number of people who can take part in the March Past is limited to 10,000 people due to capacity and the amount of time participants can reasonably be expected to stand."

Applications are now closed for 2023. Check the Royal British Legion's website in 2024 for details on how to apply to take part next year.

The following are eligible to take part:

• Ex-service personnel and civilians from the UK and the Commonwealth who have served the Crown.
• Wives, husbands, or civil partners of those who have died as a result of their service in His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
• A carer of a veteran requiring wheelchair assistance.

The event is a veterans’ parade and serving Armed Forces personnel are not permitted to take part.