OXFORDSHIRE fell silent at 11am to honour those who fell in all wars as the country observed Remembrance Sunday.

Thousands joined services and ceremonies at churches and war memorials around the county, with the biggest taking place in St Giles Oxford.

Representatives of the armed forces were joined by forces veterans, civic and religious leaders, members of the emergency services, youth groups and other organisations at the War Memorial at the junction of Banbury and Woodstock roads.

After a two-minute silence, wreathes were laid on the steps of the memorial in remembrance of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The street was closed for the ceremony and opened shortly after.

The commemoration was one of thousands in towns and villages around the country.

In London, the King honoured the nation's war dead for the first time as monarch and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph.

Thousands of veterans proudly wearing their medals, military families and the public packed Whitehall for the ceremony and watched as Charles placed his floral tribute at the base of the memorial on Whitehall.

In recent years, Charles had performed the role on behalf of the Queen as the Prince of Wales, but as the first chimes of Big Ben rang out at 11am on Sunday and a two-minute silence began, he stood before the Cenotaph in his role as head of state.

Oxford Mail:

The War Memorial in St Giles, Oxford

A volley from a gun fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from nearby Horse Guards Parade rang out to signal the start of the moment of silent reflection, punctuated by the sound of London traffic, and another loud blast marked its end.

Charles laid his wreath, its design a tribute to ones used by his late mother and grandfather George VI and it featured his racing colours, after buglers from the Royal Marines played the Last Post.

The wreath was soon joined by others left by the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, and the Princess Royal, with the Queen Consort's assistant equerry, Captain Edward Andersen, laying her tribute.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to the fallen on behalf of the Government by leaving a wreath, followed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, other party leaders, senior members of the Cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

Watching from the balcony of a Government building was Camilla and the Princess of Wales, and nearby on another balcony was the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

A short service followed the laying of the main wreaths, with the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, delivering a prayer.