"[2] The first Veterans' Day in 2006 saw a series of events across the UK which included an event at the Imperial War Museum in London, which was attended by Lachhiman Gurung VC, a Nepalese recipient of the Victoria Cross, which was awarded for bravery in 1945 when he was a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion of The 8th Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army during World War II in Burma (Myanmar), and Corporal Christopher Finney GC of the Blues and Royals who was awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In the morning there was a "Parade of Standards" which was led by The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, from the International Convention Centre (ICC) to the Hall of Memory in Centenary Square.

[6] The National Veterans' Day Service was held at Blackpool Cenotaph, a Grade II Listed building which had just been restored, by North Pier on central promenade.

Among the cities joining Cardiff in hosting events were Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Plymouth, Nottingham, Bristol and Manchester.

Events in Cardiff included:[18] Armed Forces Day 2011 took place on Saturday 25 June, with the main parade held on the Royal Mile in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, which was that year's host city.

The personnel of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took the salute from Prince Charles, at the Scottish Parliament, in the presence of dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the First Minister of Scotland, and the Chief of the Defence Staff.

[19] In Windsor, Berkshire, at the Victoria Barracks, the Irish Guards were awarded their Afghan operational medals by Prince William – who is their ceremonial Colonel of the Regiment – and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

[25] Held at Liverpool Llandudno was the host city for UK Armed Forces Day 2018, which was celebrated on Saturday 2 June.

Armed Forces Day has been criticised by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), a non-governmental organisation based in the United Kingdom which promotes pacifism.

The PPU has argued the event "has fuelled the rise of militarism in everyday life in the UK" and "presents children with a simplistic image of armed force as glamorous and fun".

In addition, the PPU has denounced the perceived failure of Armed Forces Day to support British veterans and criticises its compulsory nature in some locations.

The PPU, along with other affiliated groups promoting pacifism in the UK, has regularly staged protests at Armed Forces Day events across Britain.

[34] In 2020, the DUP attempted to pass legislation implementing the event in Belfast, which was supported by the APNI and opposed by the SDLP and the Green Party Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin politician Ciaran Beattie stated that " [many] in [Belfast] will feel this is an offensive display, that it is unnecessary, that it will divide the city.