LEST WE FORGET
King Charles gives rousing speech at VE Day concert with tribute to WW2 fallen – as Wills & Kate watch from stands
More than 380,000 British soldiers perished in the bloody conflict
KING Charles evoked the VE Day spirit with a stirring speech that echoed the words of his grandfather exactly 80 years ago.
As Big Ben struck 9pm, the King took to the stage London’s Horse Guards Parade during a patriotic party to cap VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations.
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The televised speech was timed to take place at the exact moment his grandfather King George VI made his royal victory address on the radiometer from a bomb-scarred Buckingham Palace on May 8 1945.
He said while the debt to those who lived through WWII "can never truly be repaid" he said "we can, and we will, remember them" and this generation must leave behind a "better world".
Describing the Allied victory against the Nazis as "a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies" he said it was a "powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny."
And with war raging for the past three years in Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine he said the world should on the 80th anniversary of deadly continental conflict "rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom" but towards restoring peace and diplomacy.
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The King said the VE Day parties help recall the "great jubilation" that swept across the UK "when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores" 80 years ago.
And, with Queen Camilla and Prince and Princess of Wales watching from the Royal Box, he read from his mother Queen Elizabeth II's diary as she described dancing the conga on VE Day at 2am outside the palace.
Taking to the stage he said: "It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that ‘the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes’. The liberation of Europe was secured.
"His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.
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"While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.
"Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front, - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to VE Day.
Kate and Wills take seats at VE day concert to celebrate 80 years since WW2
"That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.
"Over the course of the last year, there have been 80th anniversaries across Europe, from the hills of Monte Cassino to the Lower Rhine at Arnhem.
"Last June, I was profoundly moved to join veterans of D-Day at the new national memorial overlooking Sword Beach, as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home.
"In January, as the world marked the liberation of Auschwitz, I met survivors whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.
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"All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.
"The celebration that evening was marked by my own late mother who, just nineteen-years-old, described in her diary how she mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and ‘walked for miles’ among them.
"The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote: 'Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!'
"I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2 a.m., let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace!
"The Allied victory being celebrated then, as now, was a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity.
"Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.
"But even as we rejoice again today, we must also remember those who were still fighting, still living with conflict and starvation on the other side of the world.
"For them, peace would not come until months later with V.J. Day – Victory in the Pacific – which my father witnessed at first-hand from the deck of his destroyer, H.M.S. Whelp.
"In remembering the past, we must also look to the future. As the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles, the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward, to ensure their experiences are never to be forgotten.
"We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.
"And as we reach the conclusion of the 80th Anniversary commemorations, we should remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said ‘Meeting jaw
to jaw is better than war’.
"In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict.
"For as my grandfather put it: ‘We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.’
"Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy – so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: ‘they too bequeathed a better world’."
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The victory party screened on BBC was hosted by Zoe Ball.
Exactly 80 years ago, King George VI broadcast to the nation from a bomb scarred Buckingham Palace.
Five years ago the late Queen Elizabeth II delivered a recorded video address marking the 75th anniversary during Covid lockdown.
She told Brits to "never give up, never despair - that was the message of VE Day."
The King spoke on stage during 'VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember' concert marking the anniversary.
Kate donned a white boucle jacket and wearing a five-strand pearl necklace.
She wore her hair half up half down and pinned with black velvet bow.
William sat alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Camilla was dressed in a navy blue and white jumpsuit by Anna Valentine with a long navy blue embroidered coat.
In a nod to Queen Elizabeth II, she paired her outfit with the late Monarch's Britannia brooch, featuring the union flag.
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The King wore a lounge suit with medals and neck order.
Also in the royal box were the guests of honour - six Second World War veterans, with another 19 seated on a special stand on Horse Guards.
More than 200 performers will be included in the show including a trio of Dames - Dame Joan Collins, Dame Mary Berry and Dame Sheila Hancock.
It comes after the Royal Family gathered at Westminster Abbey in London to remember the fallen at a church service earlier today.
The Royal Family - alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - joined the nation in two minutes of silence at noon before the service began.
A number of World War Two veterans were in attendance, as were the speakers of the House of Commons and Lords, who made the traditional walk from Parliament to the church shortly before the service started.
Former prime ministers Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, David Cameron and John Major were all spotted entering the Abbey this morning.
The King and Prince of Wales laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior - a monument to an unidentified soldier who died in World War One.
The King's wreath has been adorned with the message: "We will never forget," while Prince William's includes a hand-written touching message from himself and Princess Kate.
It reads: "For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War, we will remember them."
Standing beside them was WWII hero and D-Day veteran Ken Hay, 99, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment.
Kate, in a polka dot dress and earrings that belonged to Princess Diana, stood shoulder to shoulder with William after laying a wreath at Innocent Victims’ Memorial.
After the thanksgiving ceremony members of the Royal Family spent time with Second World War heroes to thank them for their service.
Kate stopped to talk to Anne Woodward-Fisher, 99, was at the abbey with her daughter Emma Leeming, 66, and grandson Edward Leeming, 31.
Mrs Woodward-Fisher was 13 when war broke out and, together with her twin sister, was evacuated to Derbyshire.
She signed up to join the forces with her sister as soon as they could at 17 and was enlisted as a driver, driving officers all over the country at night with tape over the headlights with just a slit of light shining through to light up the road ahead.
Her daughter Emma Leeming said: “The princess was very lovely and gracious. She said 'I hope you’ve written down your wonderful story'. We said that actually we have, we did the other year, all about growing up in the war.”
Dorothy Smith, 101, who served as a Wren with the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, was reunited with Princess Anne who first met her at a garden party last year.
She said: "I said she looked very nice and she said thank you, so do you."
The mother-of-five, who was at the abbey with her daughter Gillian Walklate, was also grabbed by Wills
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Gillian said: "The prince was saying his neck order kept banging on his chin and he joked that’s why he had grown a beard. He was so friendly and just so easy to speak to.
"The Princess of Wales shook hands and said William was always telling her she has cold hands."
Alfred Littlefield, 101, who served with the Royal Engineers and landed in Normandy on D-Day 3, was invited to the abbey after attending the palace tea party with the King and Queen on Monday.
His daughter Shirley Powell said: "We’ve had a wonderful time. The King thanked him for his service."
During the service, war-time PM Winston Churchill's 10-year-old great-great-grandson Alexander lit a candle of peace.
He said: "It feels really amazing that I can represent my family and also the younger generation to know and remember everyone involved in World War II."
In a packed abbey guests, which also included PM Keir Starmer and Traitors 2024 winner and ex-soldier Harry Clark and telly hardman Ross Kemp, heard an extract from Winston Churchill's VE Day speech.
And singer Zizi Strallen performed the familiar wartime favourite The White Cliffs of Dover.
Dean of Westminster Dr David Hoyle was in charge of conducting the service, with tributes directed to the Second World War generation.
The Choir of Westminster sung hymns and songs to help remember the 384,000 British soldiers who lost their lives over the nearly six-year conflict.
On May 8, 1945, services were held at the Abbey each and every hour, with around 25,000 people attending across the momentous day.
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The grand church has continued to regularly mark VE Day since, hosting special remembrance services for the 40th, 50th, 60th, and 70th anniversaries.
Today, the Abbey expected just over 1,000 worshippers to attend the service.
Later, the Royal British Legion will host an anniversary tea party at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, bringing together World War Two veterans.
A flypast is also scheduled to take place at the touching event.
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Then, at 6.30pm, churches and cathedrals across the country will ring out their bells, echoing the sounds which swept across the country 80 years ago today.
At 8pm, there will be a live concert from Horse Guards Parade in London to celebrate the historic day.
VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember is expected to be attended by as many as 10,000 people.
Zoe Ball will host the two-hour star-packed TV concert from a huge stage in front of the thousands of invitees.
What happened on VE Day in 1945?
On May 8, 1945, people across the UK came together to celebrate the end of nearly six years of war with Nazi Germany.
Deemed Victory in Europe (VE) Day, it marked the surrender of the Nazi regime and the end of suffering and death across the continent.
Bells rang out across the country as VE Day dawned, as Brits celebrated the national holiday with jubilant festivities.
Revellers wore military uniforms as party hats, as millions celebrated with singing and dancing.
At 3pm, as Big Ben struck the hour, Prime Minister Winston Churchill broadcast a short speech explaining the end of the war and Germany's surrender.
He added: "Long live the cause of freedom!
"God save the King!"
Crowds gathered around Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace, with the then King George and Queen Elizabeth making eight appearances on the famous balcony, alongside their children Elizabeth and Margaret.
At one point, the family were also joined by Churchill.
Throughout the day, Westminster Abbey held services every hour as around 25,000 people attending to remember the war effort and victory as well as the friends and loved ones lost during the brutal conflict.
Across the UK, bunting was put up and furniture hauled outside for street parties, as the nation celebrated unity and victory.
Many children, who had also only known war, tucked into special tables of food prepared for the momentous day.
As evening fell, blackouts finally came to an end, and men, women, and children gazed upon the sight of lit up public buildings and celebratory bonfires.
Later tonight, a thousand beacons will be lit up across the UK, from Land's End to Golspie, 70 miles south of John O’Groats, as the nation celebrates the anniversary of the end of the war.
Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery, who served with the Royal Artillery in Korea and won Britain’s Got Talent in 2019, will lead the country and community choirs singing the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country as the beacons light up the night.
Pubs have also been allowed to stay open until 1am tonight to mark the special occasion, allowing Brits to mark VE Day with a drink late into the evening.
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Commemorations have been taking place over the past four days to mark the momentous occasion.
On Monday, members of the royal family gathered to observe a grand military parade and flypast in central London.
More than 1,000 servicemen and women made the walk from Parliament Square, past the Cenotaph, along Whitehall and The Mall in a touching display.
Then, members of the family retired to Buckingham Palace in order to observe a stunning flypast of 23 military aircraft, both old and new.
The incredible display featured a World War Two-era Lancaster bomber alongside a number of modern RAF aircraft, including Typhoons and F-35 Lightning jets.
MP recalls late grandad who served in RAF
By Mike Ridley
The politician behind this week’s spectacular VE Day celebrations admits that her late grandad who served with the RAF in World War II played a major part in the plans.
Minister for Celebrations Stephanie Peacock told The Sun: “Throughout all of the discussions and planning, thinking of my Grandad Bobby was front and centre in paying tribute to that generation who gave so much during the Second World War.
“People like my grandad were the best of British. It was really important that we give a fitting commemoration and pay tribute to all their sacrifice.”
After working as a cobbler, age 18 Bobby Peacock joined up in 1939 and joined the Home Guard who trained with broomsticks in those early days.
Shortly after he joined the RAF as an electrical engineer working all over the UK on communication equipment for Lancaster and Wellington bombers.
Barnsley MP, Ms Peacock attended the launch in Manchester of a play featuring World War II letters of love.
The Imperial War Museum encouraged families to hunt out their war time letters.
Ms Peacock has found wartime love letters written between her grandad Bobby while he was in the RAF and his girlfriend Louise Weston, who later became his wife.
Playwright James Graham has used real family letters to create The Next Morning, a short play for the National Theatre.
Ms Peacock said: “It’s about waking up the day after VE Day and the hopes and dreams of that generation, people like my granddad Bobby, and their hopes for the future.”
More than 300,000 Brownies and Guides are to be given a VE Day 80 badge to honour girls who helped out during World War II.
Hundreds of Girl Guide leader were sent to Europe to help in the aftermath of D-Day, including working as medics at Belsen concentration camp.
After roaring over thousands of people in the crowd, who had gathered to spot the royals and celebrate the momentous day, the Red Arrows closed the display, releasing their iconic red, white, and blue smoke.
The King and Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children - George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 7 - were all in attendance.
After observing the spectacle, members of the Firm then hosted a tea party in Buckingham Palace for veterans of the conflict.
They met with William, Kate, and young George, discussing the stories from their past and emphasising the importance of learning lessons for the future.
On Tuesday, Queen Camilla officially opened the return of ceramic poppies to the Tower of London.
More than 30,000 of the near 900,000 poppies, first shown in 2014, returned to the stunning castle, which was bombed during the war.
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The installation, called The Tower Remembers, represents a “wound” across the inner walls of the fortress, symbolising the enduring sacrifices made during the conflict to mark 80 years since the end of the conflict.
Yesterday, the Parliament Choir hosted a Victory in Europe Day anniversary concert in Westminster Hall.
'THE SPIRIT LIVES ON'
By Mike Ridley
D-Day veteran Mervyn Kirsh got the shock of his life when he returned to London’s Piccadilly Circus today.
On VE Day 80 years ago crowds of 50,000 thronged in Piccadilly to party in the packed streets.
But when 100-year-old Mervyn arrived there today at 3pm – the exact time PM Winston Church told the nation World War II was over – he discovered he is the star of a secret video.
The moving three-minute film - on a giant advertising screen – shows a young soldier returning from war on VE Day.
The powerful film whisks audiences back through time from 2025 to the VE celebrations of 1945.
Created by advertising giant M&C Saachi for the Together Coalition, the video uses archive footage of events 80 years ago as if streamed live through modern-day smart phones and social media.
The Second World War soldier, just 20 years old, walks through the bustle of the present-day Piccadilly, amazed by the dazzle of modern life.
Then, to his astonishment, he sees World War II veteran Mervyn, now age 100. In the teeming modern Piccadilly Circus the two salute each other.
The film ends with: "We are here because they were there. The spirit lives on.”
Sound track to the video is the powerful hymn I Vow To Thee My Country.
At 9.30 tonight Britain’s Got Talent winner, Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery will lead the nation in singing I Vow to Thee My Country as beacons are lit across the country to mark the end of VE Day 80.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:"80 years ago Piccadilly Circus hosted thousands celebrating the end of the Second World War.
“I'm pleased that, as part of our commemorations this year, we can recreate this moment on the big screen and ensure the stories of that greatest generation are passed on to the young people of today."
Mervyn, of Cockfosters, Herts, volunteered to land under fire in Normandy on D-Day+1 after 200 men from his unit were killed on June 6 when their ship was torpedoed.
Only their commanding officer survived and volunteers were urgently needed.
Mervyn, who served with 17 Vehicle Company and looked after military vehicles, hoped to reach Berlin.
But, exhausted he was told to make his way home from Germany, and fell asleep for 36 hours straight on a boarded-up train to Belgium.
He slept through D-Day and when he woke up in Bruges the war was over.
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