Kate Middleton Watches as Prince William Lays Wreath for Fallen Soldiers on Remembrance Sunday

The Prince and Princess of Wales were among members of the royal family paying tribute on Remembrance Sunday in the U.K.

Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla stood in solemn salute at one of the most important events in the royal calendar.

The royal women joined members of the royal family, politicians, service personnel and veterans gathered in London to remember those who died or suffered during wartime on Remembrance Sunday.

On a balcony above The Cenotaph war memorial in England's capital, the Princess of Wales, 41, took her spot alongside Queen Camilla, 76, to watch as their husbands, Prince William, 41, and King Charles, 74, laid wreaths at the memorial during the service.

The National Service of Remembrance — which also included a two-minute moment of silence at 11 a.m. local time on Remembrance Sunday — is an annual ceremony which always takes place the second weekend of November. It honors those from the U.K. and Commonwealth nations who died in wars.

At its center is the laying of wreaths made of bright red poppies. The flower has been used since 1921 as a symbol to commemorate military members who have died in wars.

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Under gray London sky, the tribute from the country was led by King Charles — wearing the uniform of The Marshal of the Royal Air Force with greatcoat and sword — who stepped forward and laid the first wreath. Then, a second floral display was laid on Queen Camilla's behalf by her equerry.

William — wearing his distinctive red-collared Officer’s Cloak of The Blues and Royals, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel — then stepped forward laid the wreath of the Prince of Wales at the memorial.

The wreath featured a new ribbon in Welsh red. William placed his tribute, took a few steps backward and made a salute with his white-gloved hand.

Watching from the balcony above, Princess Kate wore a cluster of poppies and a Royal Air Force pin on her black coat.

Prince William was followed by his uncle Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and then his aunt Princess Anne, who also laid wreaths.

The ceremony had begun earlier when the royal family arrived after a procession that included serving Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his living priministerial predecessors as well as the representatives of around 20 different faiths and the heads of the armed forces. There were also around 50 High Commissioners from across the Commonwealth.

Then, the royal party and the veterans stood quietly as Big Ben a couple of hundred yards away, chimed on the hour signaling the start of the two-minute silence.

The peaceful pause was ended when a cannon sounded from Horse Guards Parade nearby and the solemn wreath-laying began. The Bishop of London then led the service of prayers and hymns.

Remembrance Sunday is the centerpiece of several events to commemorate those who have fought and died or been injured in conflicts around the world. Military leaders, veterans and current service members took part in the poignant memorial in London. Other events took place around the U.K. as the country came to a standstill in tandem with the silent two-minute memorial in central London.

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As the watching crowd and the veterans waited for the royals and clergy to join them on Whitehall, the military band played a series of traditional tunes including the haunting Nimrod from by Elgar's Variations. A mainstay of the royal year, it was the first Remembrance service since the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May.

The event came after Saturday's Festival of Remembrance, which saw the royal family gather at the Royal Albert Hall for an evening of music and commemorations. At that moving, poignant occasion, Charles unveiled statues to his late parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

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Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took part in events to mark the Veterans Day weekend.

On Wednesday, the couple went to San Diego for a series of events surrounding military personnel. After spending the morning at Camp Pendleton, they took part in the grand opening of the Navy SEAL Foundation’s Warrior Fitness Program West Coast facility.

Related: Prince Harry Supports Military Children Who Lost a Parent: He 'Gets It,' Says Charity Founder (Exclusive)

CEO of the Navy SEAL Foundation Robin King told PEOPLE exclusively that the couple was "absolutely fantastic. They had done a lot of homework on the Navy SEAL Foundation, on the program."

She added that Meghan, 42, and Harry, 39, "came prepared, and they were extremely interested in knowing what the program did, what it was going to do and how it's going to impact the community."

On Thursday, Prince Harry was named the global ambassador for a charity in the U.K. that supports young people who are bereaved after losing a military parent, Scotty's Little Soldiers.

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