Thousands join Pride parade in London Published duration 25 June 2016

image copyright Getty Images image caption Pride celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and is in its 43rd year

Tens of thousands of people have joined the Pride parade through central London.

The annual celebratory march, now in its 43rd year, stopped for a minute to remember the victims shot dead in a gay nightclub in Orlando.

The parade got under way in the West End with an increased visible police presence.

For the first time, the Red Arrows will fly past the march and a rainbow flag is flying at Parliament.

image copyright Getty Images image caption The theme of this year's march is No Filter

image copyright Getty Images image caption Tens of thousands joined the march while others cheered on the parade

Justine Greening, Secretary of State for International Development, announced she is in a same-sex relationship as the event was in full swing.

She tweeted : "Today's a good day to say I'm in a happy same sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes you're better off out!"

image copyright Conservative Party image caption Government minister Justine Greening has come out on the day of Pride parade

image copyright PA image caption Actors Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley were at the Pride parade

Her announcement came as the director of Pride London, Michael Salter-Church, said this year's campaign slogan is No Filter.

image copyright @MetLGBTNetwork image caption Met Police officer proposed during the Pride, and it was accepted

image copyright @MetLGBTNetwork image caption This Met Police officer also proposed during the parade - and they were engaged. Mayor Sadiq Khan also congratulated them.

He said: "No Filter is a call to arms. A call for people to be themselves, to live as their true selves.

"Now that might sound too obvious but too many people already self-censor. On this weekend whilst we celebrate the LGBT community, be your true selves, try and live without filter because that's a really important message that we want spread around the UK and the world."

image copyright Getty Images image caption London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined the revellers

image copyright AP image caption Colour and drama was present in plenty

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also joined the celebratory parade and singer Alesha Dixon will entertain revellers.

In a message before the march, he said London is "a city where the large majority of people of all communities, faiths and backgrounds, don't simply tolerate each other, but respect, embrace and celebrate our diversity".

At the scene: BBC reporter Catriona Renton

What a carnival atmosphere!

The buzz around the start of the parade was electric as we watched several people dressed as the character of Patsy from "Absolutely Fabulous" dancing on their bus with a giant high heeled shoe and lipstick on it.

Then the real stars of the show Edina and Patsy herself cut the ribbon. Then they were off.

Approximately 40,000 people from around 300 organisations paraded down Oxford Street in a sea of glitter and colour on their way to Trafalgar Square.

There was silence as people here paused to remember the 49 victims of the shootings in Orlando who were killed two weeks ago. The message was of solidarity.

image copyright Reuters image caption The parade stood still to remember the victims of Orlando club shooting

The march takes place weeks after a gunman shot dead 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando in Florida.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Many Muslims joined the march to send a message against homophobia and hate

The Metropolitan Police said it will mount a visible police presence to provide reassurance to those taking part.

Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe earlier said there was "no intelligence" to suggest the march or the city would be targeted, urging people to join in but "take reasonable precaution".

media caption "Out and proud... not proud of being out": Voices from Pride parade

image copyright Getty Images image caption Members of the armed forces personnel joined in

image copyright Getty Images image caption The rainbow flag coloured the streets of London

Organisers expect that more people will attend the event this year to show support for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community.

image copyright UK Parliament/JESSICA TAYLOR image caption A Rainbow flag has been flying from Portcullis House

image copyright Reuters image caption The EU referendum and Brexit vote also made its presence felt as London had voted to remain

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was involved in organising the first Pride, said people must unite against hate and this year both gay and straight Muslims will join the parade in a show of solidarity.

He said: "In the wake of the horrific mass murder of LGBT people by an Islamist gunman in Orlando, we are highlighting the need for dialogue, unity and solidarity between the Muslim and LGBT communities - to oppose all hate."

image copyright Getty Images image caption About 100 Met Police officers joined the march

image copyright Getty Images