This Morning viewers were left raising their eyebrows after Cat Deeley made an unfortunate mistake ahead of the nation’s two-minute silence on Armistice Day.

Cat introduced the national annual act of mourning with the words: ‘We’re going to go celebrate now.. with the memorial’.

The unfortunate misstep split viewers today, some of whom were outraged while others defended her from criticism.

At 11am the nation fell quiet for two minutes as they reflected on the service and sacrifices the Armed Forces have made and paid their respects to the fallen.

The silence was observed by ITV’s This Morning as the cameras panned to memorial services in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Westminster Abbey. The feed then returned to the Cenotaph where service men and women continued to pay their respects and observe the silence.

Cat went on to state: ‘Incredibly moving scenes there, you’re watching This Morning on ITV1.’

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This Morning viewers were left raising their eyebrows after Cat Deeley made an unfortunate gaffe ahead of the nation’s two-minute silence on Armistice Day

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Cat was joined the studio by Alison Hammond and former Royal Marine Ben McBean, who on his first tour in Afghanistan was catastrophically injured in an explosion, losing a leg and arm

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People are seen standing in silence during a Remembrance Day service in Whitehall, London

Cat had been joined the studio by co-host Alison Hammond and former Royal Marine Ben McBean, who on his first tour in Afghanistan was catastrophically injured in an explosion, losing his right leg and left arm.

Viewers were quick to disagree with Cat’s choice of words, pointing out that Cat had said it was time to ‘celebrate’ rather than commemorate.

Viewers wrote: ‘Can I just say, Cat, that was a time to remember, not to, as you said, “celebrate”. Enough with this disrespectful nonsense, please. #ThisMorning’;

Meanwhile others, watching on a delay, accused the programme of cutting into the two-minute silence, when it fact Cat spoke after the silence had ended.

‘ITV even cut into the two minutes silence. Disrespect all round. Shame on you @ITV #ThisMorning,’; Well done #ThisMorning for breaking into the two minute silence before it had even bl**dy finished.. So bl**dy disrespectful!’;

‘#thismorning two minutes silence once a year too much to ask to acknowledge the debt we owe those who fought for our freedom. Shocking decision.’;

Cat had said: ‘It is the 11th of November and as we approach 11 o’clock, it is time for us to pay our respects and join the nation for a two-minute silence where we’ll remember those who served and still serve our country.’

The Duchess of Edinburgh was among those paying their respects on Remembrance Day as she solemnly read a poem at a service in Staffordshire.

Sophie, 59, who is married to Prince Edward, 60, attended the Armistice service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire this morning.

Alongside Sophie, thousands of veterans, serving personnel and members of the public gathered at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial this morning to pay their respects to ‘those who have served and sacrificed for the country’.

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Viewers were quick to disagree with Cat’s choice of words after she said it was time to ‘celebrate’, while others – seemingly watching on a delay – claimed ITV had cut into the silence

The National Memorial Arboretum was opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 and is designed in such a way that at precisely 11:00 on November 11, a shaft of light falls on the bronze wreath in its centre.

Ever graceful, Sophie laid a wreath to mark Armistice Day – with a message written in her loopy handwriting: ‘In memory of our fallen.’

After the service, the Duchess took in the memorial itself, reading through the 16,000 names of those in the Armed Forces who were killed on duty.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has announced more than £10 million to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day.

The Prime Minister pledged a ‘moment of national reflection’ in 2025, with events on May 8 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe, and also on August 15 to mark the end of the Second World War.

Ahead of the ceremony Sir Keir said he was ‘honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today’.

He added: ‘These events are vital in ensuring the memory of millions of young soldiers, sailors, and aviators live on for generations to come.

‘That is why this Government will bring the nation together in a moment of national reflection to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day next year, delivering on our commitment to strengthen community spirit and cohesion and remember the fallen.’

Of the Remembrance weekend, Sir Keir said the ‘courage and sacrifice of so many over the generations’ brings the country together on Remembrance Day ‘in a spirit of the most profound gratitude and respect’.

A previous version of this article said that Ms Deeley had spoken during the two minute silence. In fact, she spoke after the silence had ended. The article has been amended to make this clear.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh was among those paying their respects on Remembrance Day as she solemnly read a poem at a service in Staffordshire