Covid: UK marks one year anniversary of lockdown

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On Tuesday, the UK marked one year since the first coronavirus lockdown with a national minute's silence and a number of memorial services.

Lichfield Cathedral is illuminated in yellow light, with the words 'Reflect', 'Support', and 'Hope'.Image source, Getty Images
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Lichfield Cathedral is illuminated in yellow light, with the words 'Reflect', 'Support', and 'Hope', as part of the National Day of Reflection

The Queen reflected on the "grief and loss felt by so many" and sent a bouquet of flowers to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, as part of a national day of reflection.

A number of UK landmarks lit up in yellow to create a "beacon of remembrance" after dark, while people around the country held phones, torches and candles on their doorsteps in tribute to victims.

The gesture was organised by end-of-life charity Marie Curie.

On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough restrictions on people's lives, aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19.

Since then, the UK's official death toll has risen from 364 to 126,172.

Landmark and tourist attraction The London Eye is illuminated in yellow light as part of the National Day of Reflection on the anniversary of the first national Covid-19 lockdown, in central London on March 23, 2021.Image source, AFP
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Landmark and tourist attraction The London Eye is illuminated in yellow light.

The Titanic building and visitor centre is lit up in yellow for the Day of Reflection on 23 March 2021 in Belfast, United Kingdom.Image source, Getty Images
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The iconic Titanic building and visitor centre is lit up in yellow in Belfast.

Northern Spire Bridge is illuminated in yellow, as part of a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of Britain's first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in SunderlandImage source, Reuters
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Sunderland's Northern Spire Bridge looked striking at nightfall

The Kelpies sculpture is illuminated in yellow, as part of a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of Britain"s first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in Falkirk, Scotland, Britain March 23, 2021.Image source, Reuters
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The Kelpies sculpture in Falkirk, Scotland, is also illuminated in yellow, as part of a day of reflection.

A custodian places a lit candle outside 10 Downing Street to mark one year of Covid-19 and to honour those who lost their lives to Covid-19 in London, 23 March 2021.Image source, EPA
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At No 10 Downing Street, a staff member places a candle on the doorstep for the 20:00 vigil.

Members of the public outside the Old House at Home pub in Dormansland, Surrey, during the National Day of Reflection, on the anniversary of the first national lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.Image source, PA Media
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There was a sombre reflection for those lost during the pandemic in Dormansland, Surrey

Nurse, Sanyu Kasule stands at the London Eye in LondonImage source, PA Media
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Nurse, Sanyu Kasule lit a candle near the River Thames in London.

Here are pictures of people observing the minute's silence and attending services around the UK.

Health workers stand outside the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and observe a minute's silenceImage source, Getty Images
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Health workers from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (also below)

Health workers stand outside the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and observe a minute's silenceImage source, Getty Images
Staff observe a minute's silence outside the Queen Elizabeth University HospitalImage source, PA Media
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Staff outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow

Health workers and faith leaders stand outside the Fazl mosque vaccination centre in southwest London and take part in a minutes silenceHealth workers and faith leaders at the Fazl mosque vaccination centre in southwest London take part in the minute's silenceImage source, Getty Images
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Health workers and faith leaders at the Fazl mosque vaccination centre in southwest London

Staff observe a minute's silence outside a Marie Curie hospiceImage source, Getty Images
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Staff at a Marie Curie hospice in Penarth

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk through Westminster AbbeyImage source, Getty Images
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge took part in a private moment of reflection in Westminster Abbey and then visited a vaccination centre at the abbey in London

MPs stand in silence in the House of CommonsImage source, UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
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The House of Commons held a minute's silence. Prime Minister Boris Johnson observed the silence privately

Members of the Scottish Parliament observe a minute's silenceImage source, PA Media
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (left), Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh (centre) and Scottish Conservative Ruth Davidson (right), along with other MSPs and parliament staff, observe a minute's silence in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh

Nicola Sturgeon bows her head during a minute's silenceImage source, PA Media
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In a tweet earlier in the day, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "One year on. Thinking today of all those who have lost a loved one to Covid, and to everyone who continues to make heartbreaking sacrifices as we continue to navigate our way through this terrible ordeal, together"

Church goers attend a service in Lichfield CathedralImage source, PA Media
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Canon Andrew Stead leads a service at Lichfield Cathedral

People light candles on the floor of Lichfield CathedralImage source, PA Media
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People light candles in Lichfield Cathedral

The Dean of Ripon lights a large candle in a cathedralImage source, Reuters
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The Dean of Ripon, The Very Reverend John Dobson lights a candle of remembrance in Ripon

Nurses and firefighters stand alongside each other in an ICU wardImage source, Getty Images
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Nurses stand alongside firefighters (in red) from Hampshire Fire and Rescue as they observe a minute's silence in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth

People stand outside St Thomas' Hospital and observe a minute's silenceImage source, Getty Images
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Chief spiritual adviser Mia Hilborn (centre) stands with NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens (centre left) and Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust chief executive and chief medical officer Dr Ian Abbs (centre right) during a ceremony at St Thomas' Hospital in central London

Members of staff place flowers outside St Thomas' HospitalImage source, Getty Images
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Members of staff place flowers near the statue of Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole at St Thomas' Hospital

Commuters stand in the atrium of Waterloo station and observe a minute's silenceImage source, Getty Images
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Commuters take part in a minute's silence at Waterloo Station in central London

A woman ties a yellow ribbon to a memorial tree in a churchImage source, Getty Images
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A yellow ribbon is tied to a memorial tree at Hutton Rudby Methodist Church in Middlesbrough

A girl ties a yellow ribbon to a railingImage source, Getty Images
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Angel ties a yellow ribbon to a gate after a service at St Catherine's Church in London

All pictures are subject to copyright.

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