he was visiting the uk, he was visiting european cities, european capitals, meeting their leaders, in order to reset that relationship. so we are seeing, as sir keir starmer taking part in those armistice day commemorations, in paris, the first british prime minister to do so since sir winston churchill back in 1944. and it has been described as a significant year for british— french relations. ahead of this poignant ahead of these wreath—laying events, the two leaders had a lot to discuss. of course they have the situation in the ongoing conflict, in ukraine, the middle east, also migration, something of huge concern to both the uk and france. and as i mentioned, this new labour government's willingness to push a reset on those relations with the european union. so, we

have seen, as the two leaders a little bit earlier on, they laid wreaths at the statue of george clements, the leader of france from 1917 to 1920 —— georges clemenceau during the upheaval during the first world war. then we saw the wreath—laying at the statue of sir winston churchill, and again like i say, a historic moment for the british leader because it was sir winston churchill who was with charles de gaulle on armistice day in paris at the arc de triomphe, such a significant and poignant memorial to the fallen, and now we have the two leaders reflecting and meeting, veterans and members of the french and british forces, the

signing of the golden book of the flame, and greeting members of the flame committee, the flagbearers, the presidents of major patriotic associations including british ones of course, military authorities, any poignant day as europe remembers what happened 106 years ago. so, as we monitor what is happening here in paris at the tomb of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame that burns permanently, first put there back in 1921, a reminder of all those who sacrificed so, so much. the tomb of the unknown soldier and

unidentified member of the armed forces killed during the first world war, laying out the arc de triomphe to symbolically commemorate all of those who died that this nation throughout history installed in paris in the arc de triomphe in 1920, simultaneously with the internment of a british unknown soldier in westminster abbey. both those graves marking the first examples of the tomb of an unknown soldier, honouring, marking the many, many unknown dead of the first world war. so we monitor these images of the leader of france, the leader of the united kingdom, together on a significant day, on a poignant day as europe marks

armistice day, observed on november the 11th each year by the people across europe and across the commonwealth as they participate in a two—minute silence at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

we are watching events to mark armistice day observed on november the 11th, and we are watching the live scene in paris, where sir keir starmer and emmanuel macron together meeting members of the military, members of the french and british armed forces. and the other event we are watching

is in ypres. of course ypres is a deeply poignant and historically important area, where in a strategically important position during the first world war, ypres in belgium, because it stood in the path of germany's planned to sweep across the rest of belgium, so the importance of this town is really reflected in the five major battles that occurred around it during the war. the first battle of ypres where the allies halted the german army's advanced to the east of the city and the german army eventually surrounding the city on three sides, british and commonwealth soldiers often passing through the menin gate, the men in port on their way to the front lines. we know that

around 300,000 people.

indistinct chat

so, as we watch what is happening in paris as france marks armistice day, we are just going to have a look at what is happening across the uk. the national memorial arboretum is marking armistice day as well, they are getting ready for a two—minute silence at 11 o'clock uk time, in around 15 minutes, and we will have special coverage here on bbc news of that. and we can just make out the duchess of wessex there paying tribute and attending the national memorial arboretum events. the arboretum designed to help people reflect and mark and commemorate, and

also celebrate the lives of those who have lost their lives in service. so the national memorial arboretum getting under way to mark that service. and in london, the cenotaph there where on sunday, yesterday, we saw the march past with those few remaining veterans also getting ready to mark the two—minute silence which will take place shortly. and of course we will be watching closely as big ben marks that 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, marking that significant anniversary, marking the armistice day which is observed

of course notjust armistice day which is observed of course not just across europe but across commonwealth countries as well. we have been watching what has been happening in paris as sir keir starmer was there with the french leader and the cavalcade there leaving the arc de triomphe, leaving those commemorations marking what has been significant, of course poignant, but also significant because we saw that first time that a uk leader has spent armistice day in france since 1944 armistice day in france since 19114 when we had that historic moment when sir winston churchill himself was there with charles de gaulle. sir keir starmer saying that he was honoured to be there with the french leader, and this was a personal invitation by president emmanuel macron to

the british prime minister to attend these events in france itself. so the british leader will be leaving following lots of talks as well, important talks not least how the situation is europe —— in europe is taking place with the ongoing conflict in ukraine and in the middle east. but for now we just in the middle east. but for now wejust think about in the middle east. but for now we just think about and reflect all those who fell in the first world war as we monitor what is happening in scotland, as edinburgh gets ready to mark that two—minute silence and we monitor what will take place at the cenotaph in central london. as we await in around ten minutes' time that two—minute

silence to take place, the two—minute silence that we will mark here with a special coverage across bbc news. but as we watch what is happening at the cenotaph of course, we also reflect what happened just yesterday when we had 10,000 men and women marching past the cenotaph at the remembrance service. six surviving veterans of d—day took part yesterday in that march—past the cenotaph yesterday. and we think about how now so few, they were outnumbered by the eight former prime ministers that lined up in the commemoration in london's whitehall. so we reflect now as we wait for the two—minute silence to take place injust under ten place in just under ten minutes' place injust under ten minutes' time. of course, we will have special coverage here

on bbc news of that poignant moment.

bagpipes play

welcome to special coverage of armistice day commemorations. we are approaching that most

significant of times. the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. that is the moment in 1918 when the guns of the first world war fell silent. and the great war came to an end. today, people have gathered together at war memorials in the nation's capitals. in edinburgh, in belfast and in cardiff. different generations standing side by side in remembrance of those who gave so much for our freedom. big ben strikes the hour music: last post

big ben strikes the hour