As part of a decade-long tradition so-called ‘Poppy Cabs’ filled Westminster Bridge as they queued up to take veterans home from services in central London yesterday. Cab drivers stuck signs in their windows to notify the public before taking the former soldiers home after the Queen led the nation in a two-minute silence to mark 100 years since the end of World War 1. The signs read: “Poppy Cab. Lest we forget.”

The scheme was set up in 2009 and sees Poppy Cabs work alongside the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, which also supports outings to events.

Around 1,000 taxi rides are provided to veterans for free by the charitable drivers.

Mike Hughes, 72, set up the scheme.

He told the Evening Express: “Everybody parks their egos on the side of the road, we’re all there to help the veterans.”

He also said when the scheme started just 14 cabs lined up to help take veterans home.

He said now there are on average 150.

The Queen shed a tear at the Cenotaph in a service that saw more than 10,000 ex-soldiers and current servicemen and women march to honour the fallen.

Her Majesty watched on as Prince Charles helped lead the country in remembering the fallen at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

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She paid her respect to those who had fallen in line of duty in observing the two minutes of silence, held when the Big Ben chimed at 11am.

The Queen was joined on the balcony by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

She faced the monument, on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office building, wearing a sombre outfit and beautiful red poppies pinned on her lapel.

For the third year in a row, the Prince of Wales took the responsibility of laying the first wreath of red poppies on the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

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The Queen last led the country on a Remembrance Day service in 2016.

Following this, the monarch broke with tradition by letting the Prince of Wales perform the symbolic and key duty.

In another emotional moment, Prince William and Prince Harry, respectively second and sixth in line to the throne, also laid their wreaths of red poppies side-by-side.

Meghan Markle attended her second Remembrance Sunday service, where stood on a separate balcony to Kate Middleton, the Queen and Camila.

The Duchess of Sussex looked solemn as she watched the ceremony alongside Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Among the politicians standing near the senior royals were Prime Minister Boris Johnson and leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn.

They were joined by five former leaders of the country – Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May.

Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, and DUP Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, also laid wreaths at the emotional ceremony.

Following the service, up to 10,000 war veterans will march in a slow procession past the war memorial.

Prince Harry and his brother William were united as they lay a wreath at the famous monument.

The service paid tribute to those who lost their lives fighting in the war for Britain and the Commonwealth.

The ceremony at the Cenotaph comes after Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William and Kate joined the Queen at London’s Royal Albert Hall last night for the Festival of Remembrance.

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