Wreaths have been laid at the Cenotaph to mark the centenary of the Royal British Legion (RBL).
The charity marked the exact moment of its formation 100 years ago at 9am on Saturday with the laying of wreaths on Whitehall in London and other towns, cities and villages across the UK.
The ceremony was led by retired Lieutenant General James Bashall, who is national president of the RBL.
In a video message to celebrate the charity’s centenary, the Prince of Wales hailed its “constant” support of the Armed Forces community.
“For one hundred years, the Royal British Legion has been a constant, through the annual Poppy Appeal, leading the nation in remembrance and providing a life-long commitment to every veteran and their families.
“Therefore, I wanted, above all, to offer my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all those who have helped build this wonderful organisation we know today, and to all those who will be part of its future.”
In Portadown, Co Armagh, John Robinson – who served in the armed forces from 1971 to 2007 – laid a wreath on behalf of the branch’s almost 700 members at 9am on Saturday.
A special edition RBL centenary coin will also be used for the coin toss of the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley.
RBL director general Charles Byrne said: “In this, our centenary year, we are focused firmly on our future.
“We remain committed to our mission to ensure that those who have given so much for their country get the fair treatment, support and recognition they deserve.”