Press Association

The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council is not attending the service after some families said they didn't want the authority there in an official capacity.

Elizabeth Campbell said it was only right to "respect the wishes of those involved in the service", adding: "I want them to know that we will be thinking of them."

The council held a minute's silence at the town hall in High Street Kensington as the memorial at St Paul's got under way.

Victoria Derbyshire

Paul escaped from the sixth floor of Grenfell Tower.

He believed photos of his mother - who had died of a brain tumour in 2010 - had been lost, along with a jewellery box.

But he has now been able to retrieve them.

A song is now being played on an Oud in the Cathedral. It is a traditional North African instrument with 11 strings.

Singer Adele at the Grenfell memorial at St Paul's Cathedral.

Adele was one of the first celebrities to help victims following the fire. She also hosted private film screenings for children who survived the blaze.

David Ison, Dean of St Paul's, tells the congregation the UK is a "nation grieving".

He says the UK is still coming to terms with an "unspeakable tragedy" and the loss and hurt of that June day.

"Our hope for the future [is] that the tragedy that struck the people of Grenfell Tower will never happen again."

Matthew Price
BBC correspondent

It is only when you walk through the door of the hotel room that you even begin to understand what life has been like for so many of the survivors, six months on from the Grenfell fire.

Stacked along a short corridor, past the wardrobe and door to the bathroom, they've piled up cases and boxes. Clothes on top. It's tidy, but a squeeze. This is the room that grandpa sleeps in.

For the last six months this is how the Rasoul family have lived.

"It's a struggle," says the father, Mohammed Rasoul. "At first, immediately after the fire you think, 'Oh, OK, hotels, we'll be comfortable for a while.' But the novelty soon wears off... It comes to the point where you feel like a prisoner living in here."

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

The atmosphere outside St Paul's is sombre.

Usually a popular tourist attraction, it was noticeably much more quiet this morning.

From 10:00 GMT, crowds started to grow and there was little reaction from family members as they walked into the cathedral.

Then, half an hour later, the bells of St Paul's started to chime.

At the same time, a group of firefighters walked into the cathedral and were applauded by the crowd.

The service starts with the hymn "Be still my soul", which is often sung at ceremonies of remembrance. A banner specially made for the memorial is carried during the hymn.

Image source, PA

Press Association

Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad said it was a day of "national mourning" because the emotions of families and survivors were still raw.

"It's a day of national mourning for something that happened in our neighbourhood and that means a lot to the survivors and the bereaved, the recognition that people from all walks of government are going to come down and grieve with them.

"That's hugely important and will mean a lot to people. I think emotions are still very raw, very, very raw, and it's as if it happened yesterday for a lot of people."

Image source, Reuters

All of the members of the Royal family expected to be at the service have arrived.

Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were at St Paul's Cathedral shortly before the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Labour MP David Lammy lost his friend Khadija Saye in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Speaking to the Victoria Derbyshire programme, he said he struggled to remain objective about the tragedy.

Mr Lammy said the 24-year-old "had so much to offer this country and the world and her life was cut off".

Watch a video remembering artist Khadija Saye below.

One survivor says he feels guilty he escaped the tower but others couldn't.

Image source, PA

Ahead of the service, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says "the pain of that terrible night is still very real and raw".

"Today is a day when we should all reflect and remember what so many lost that terrible night. A tragedy of such a scale - it is almost unimaginable.

"My officers and staff are committed to doing everything in our power to support those so deeply affected and to carry out a thorough and effective investigation."

Victoria Derbyshire

Six months on from the blaze, many residents are still living in temporary accommodation and have been away from members of the community.

Paul Menacer, who lived on the sixth floor of Grenfell Tower, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme:

"Getting the chance to actually see my neighbours in quite some while because since the fire we've been scattered into different hotels, different sort of accommodation.

“So it's more about as a family, as a group and for the broader community as well, bringing everyone together and to actually have a chance to remember the people who tragically lost their lives that day."

Clarrie Mendy lost her cousin Mary in the Grenfell Tower fire, and Mary's daughter artist Kadije Saye.

Antonio Roncolato escaped from the 10th floor of Grenfell Tower with his son.

Hamid Wahbi lived on the 16th floor of Grenfell Tower.

Today, they remember their loved ones and celebrate the community's solidarity in the aftermath of the fire.

A total of 71 people died in the tower block blaze - 53 adults and 19 children.

Among the victims was baby Logan Gomes who was stillborn in hospital on 14 June after his parents escaped.

A full list of the victims and what we know about them is here.