I watched the Princess of Wales lay her Armistice Day wreath at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum - you could hear a pin drop

Below the monument thousands of members of the public gathered for a two-minute silence to remember those who have died in military conflicts. 

Those who got their hands on ground tickets, arboretum staff and volunteers did not miss a moment of the special occasion as the whole service was relayed on two huge screens so everyone was able to participate.

And leading it all was Kate, Princess of Wales, who laid her first wreath at the event.

The princess, who was wearing a blackcoat dress accessorised with a double poppy and an Irish Guards brooch, heeled knee-length boots, gloves and a wide-brim hat, took a silent moment to honour the fallen heroes of the past before she laid wreath on the monument. 

She appeared to take a moment of reflection before returning to her seat where she bowed her head as the crowd prayed for those who had been affected by conflict.

As soon as the clock struck 11am, the crown went silent - you could hear a pin drop. 

After the service she took time to greet military personnel, their families and war veterans and many members of the public who were waiting armed with big smiles and mobile phones, and many wearing poppy themed scarves around their necks in keeping with the day of reflection.

Among them was Josie Bradburn, of Dreadnought Road, in Kingswinford, who celebrated her 72nd birthday yesterday and said: "Meeting Kate was the perfect birthday present. 

"The day could not have gone any better for me.

"She came over  to us and she asked us where we lived. She said the arboretum was a really beautiful place and that she had never been here before. She said it was really lovely and an honour to be asked to come today.

"She was really lovely. I'm shaking after that. I wasn't expecting to get to speak to her. I'm blown away."

Linda Briscoe, aged 74, from Pattingham, said: "It's been absolutely lovely and very different from previous services. The Royal guests usually retire to the marquee and we don't get to see them after the act of remembrance. But today has been really special because Kate came walking down the path and spoke to the member of the public as well as the military guests. 

"We come here regularly, but we come every on Armistice Day because we have relatives who served  and we have a nephew in the forces.

"My uncle Albert Arter, from London, was killed in the Second World War, aged 20, and his birthday is on November 12 and so we always come to pay our respects. His father survived the war.

"We had tickets for monument seats in the past, but we couldn't get any this time." 

Jon Sealey, aged 55, who grew up in Walsall, served in the Queen's Royal Lancers during the Gulf War ans was among those to secure a seat near the Royal visitor along with his wife Caroline, aged 56. He said: "We live near the arboretum and we wouldn't have missed this for the world. 

"Last year the Princess Royal attended. We're fans of the Princess of Wales so it was great to see her."

During a tour of the attraction's gallery Kate also met a group of pupils from military families attending Newport Girls' High School Academy, in Newport near Telford. They were invited after PE teacher Danielle Martin, whose husband Col Paul Martin serves in the Irish Guards, applied to visit the site.

Mrs Martin said: "We never anticipated being invited  to the Armistice Day service and also meet the princess. All the girls are from military families, whose parents have served or are serving."

Her daughter Paige Martin, aged 13, added: "Kate spoke to about 10 of us. I thought that was really important and a good opportunity. She was really nice. She asked us what we thought of the service.

"I said my favourite part was the poem Tears in the Sun because we could relate to it and it told the story of Afghanistan so that others who don't know about it could understand what it was like."

She also had a long chat with Tettenhall's Bill Redston, aged 100, who served he Royal Navy Coastal Command during the Second World War.