Nation comes together for Day of Reflection

Today, the nation has come together for key moments of reflection and connection, to mark the anniversary of the UK's first lockdown.

In poignant scenes across the nation, more than 300 supportive organisations, institutions, companies, community groups, and charities marked the day with a minute's silence at noon to acknowledge the collective loss we have faced since the nation's first lockdown on 23 March 2020. At 8pm, iconic buildings across England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland 'shone a light' for the Day, turning major cities yellow in support of those bereaved, by any cause, during the pandemic.

In London, the National Theatre, Trafalgar Square, City Hall, BT Tower, Wembley Stadium, Tate Britain, the Gherkin, and The London Eye were amongst landmarks who turned yellow in respect of the Day, whilst other participating southern attractions included Weymouth Pavilion and Winchester Cathedral. In the north of England, Liverpool Town Hall, Blackpool Tower, and St Mary's Lighthouse shone a light for those bereaved, alongside the Midlands' Lincoln Cathedral. Elsewhere, parliaments and assemblies shone yellow, as well as Cardiff's University and City Hall, Belfast's Titanic Building and City Hall, and Edinburgh's St Andrew's House.

Political leaders were amongst those who acknowledged the minute's silence, with politicians in the House of Commons and House of Lords, Holyrood, Senedd and NI Assembly taking a moment at noon to recognise the scale of loss facing the UK. The moment at mid-day was one of connection across the landscape, with emergency service workers, NHS and social care staff, charities and communities all marking the same silence in order to send a message of solidarity to those who have been coping with loss during this challenging year.

Her Majesty The Queen paid tribute to staff at St Bartholomew's Hospital with a bouquet of flowers and a message to mark the National Day of Reflection. Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince of Wales offered his personal message of reflection and hope. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also took part in a moment of reflection at Westminster Abbey.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said:

"Yesterday, the nation came together with powerful gestures, both big and small, to reflect on our collective loss and show support to those bereaved during these isolating past 12 months."

"The emotional toll of the grief so many of us have faced, at a time when so few of us have been able to connect with friends, family and community in the ways we normally would, is immeasurable. Yesterday, the National Day of Reflection was marked as a significant moment in our nation's history, through the support of leading figureheads including the royal family, House of Commons and Lords, party leaders across the political spectrum, and more than 300+ supportive community groups, charities, companies and institutions. With a nationwide minute's silence at noon, and cities across the UK turning yellow at nightfall to 'shine a light' for those bereaved, the Day was marked by the strong shows of support made to people bereaved during this pandemic."

"The work of so many communities, to recognise the day, sent a strong message to those hit hardest by the death of a loved one: they are not alone. From neighbours shining a light on their doorstep at 8pm, to political leaders respecting the minute's silence, our nation has shown a vital acknowledgement of the challenges bereaved people have been facing during this difficult year."

"Marie Curie is committed to making the National Day of Reflection an annual event, to recognise the impact of bereavement for any cause, and help the nation make time to connect with those impacted. This year we have seen, first-hand, the scale of loss facing families bereaved since the first national lockdown, and part of our longer-term work will be to keep encouraging open conservations about death, grief, and the importance of connection after loss."