THOUSANDS of people gathered in George Square as Glasgow paid its respects on Remembrance Sunday.

The service at the Cenotaph saw more than 1000 serving soldiers, veterans, cadets, police and fire service personnel turn out.

They were joined by a Royal British Legion and Remembrance Day service party that included the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sadie Docherty, and Scotland's Depute First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

A guard of honour was provided by the Royal Air Force with music by the 6th Battalion of the Royal Regiment Of Scotland.

The scene mirrored those across Scotland, the rest of the UK and the Commonwealth, with First Minister Alex Salmond paying his respects at a ceremony in Edinburgh.

Mr Salmond paid tribute to service personnel who had laid down their lives "to protect our way of life and freedom" at the Stone Of Remembrance at the City Chambers, Edinburgh.

He observed a two-minute silence and laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Scotland during the commemorations, which this year also fell on Armistice Day, which marks the agreement signed on November 11, 1918 to end the First World War.

The First Minister then attended a Service of Remembrance at St Giles' Cathedral, where he said: "Today presents every man, woman and child in Scotland with the opportunity to pause and reflect on the immense sacrifice which so many have made to protect our way of life and freedom down the years.

"This moment allows us to pay tribute to all of our servicemen and women, past and present, who have laid down their lives in defence of our country and whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.

"It is important that we also remember that today's commemoration is not simply about historical events but also about the sacrifices servicemen and women today continue to make."

In London, the Queen led the nation in honouring the fallen, laying the first wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who died fighting in all conflicts since the First World War.

Other senior royals, including Second World War veteran the Duke Of Edinburgh and current RAF pilot the Duke Of Cambridge – with wife Kate watching from a balcony – joined the monarch and politicians, military leaders, veterans and serving personnel.

The Prince Of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall had earlier attended a ceremony in Auckland as part of their Jubilee tour of New Zealand.

The Duke Of Kent was also overseas, representing the Queen at a service in the Falkland Islands.

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk