Jutland: WWI's Largest Naval Battle Remembered

David Cameron, Nicola Sturgeon and the Princess Royal have joined descendants of those who fought in the Battle of Jutland to mark 100 years to the day since the start of the largest naval battle of World War One.

British and German military bands played and crowds lined the streets as the Prime Minister and the First Minister arrived at St Magnus Cathedral on Orkney.

German president Joachim Gauck was also there.

Princess Anne represented the Royal Family at the memorial after the Duke of Edinburgh cancelled his trip on medical advice.

:: Did Britain Or Germany Win Battle Of Jutland?

She was accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence as vice-chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Guests, naval officers and descendants passed thousands of ceramic poppies installed in tribute to the war as they made their way into the UK's most northerly cathedral in Kirkwall, which hosted the ceremony because of the area's links with the battle through the Scapa Flow naval base.

A message from the Duke of Edinburgh was carried in the order of service for the ceremony.

He said: "There was, understandably, public disappointment with the result, but there is no doubt it was fought with the highest courage and determination under the most difficult and challenging circumstances.

"Whatever the judgement on the outcome, the commemoration of the centenary of the battle is focused on the endurance and gallantry of all those who took part, on both sides, and particularly on those who lost their lives.

"War may be senseless and the Battle of Jutland may have been inconclusive, but there can be no doubt that their sacrifice was not in vain."

Mr Cameron, who gave a reading, said in the order of service that the battle was a reminder that the conflict was not just fought in the trenches.

He said: "The strategic importance of Scapa Flow cannot be overstated and it is therefore highly symbolic that today the stark and striking beauty of the Orkney Islands provides the backdrop to our commemorations."

Another service will be held later at Lyness Cemetery on the island of Hoy, which is the final resting place for more than 450 service personnel who died in the conflict, including sailors killed at Jutland.

The cemetery there is close to Scapa Flow, which is where the British Grand Fleet set out for the Jutland Bank to push back German forces trying to break a British blockade.

Some 250 ships were involved, creating a scale of battle that has not been seen since.

The Royal Navy lost 14 ships and 6,000 men - the Germans 11 ships and more than 2,500 sailors.

In the decades since the battle - which both sides claimed as a victory - historians have debated over who won the confrontation.

Although the Royal Navy suffered more casualties and lost more ships, the German fleet was damaged to the extent it never took on the British in such numbers again.

There will also be a remembrance service at sea where naval representatives from both countries will scatter poppies and forget-me-nots - the German flower of remembrance - into the North Sea at Jutland Bank.