VE Day

After nearly six years of devastating conflict, on the 8th May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced in a radio broadcast to the nation that Nazi Germany had signed an unconditional surrender the day before, officially marking the end of World War II in Europe. Celebrations erupted across Great Britain as millions rejoiced in the news, a day which is now known as VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day. For a country that had endured relentless air raids during the Blitz, strict rationing, and widespread destruction, VE Day brought a sense of overwhelming relief and joy, marking the triumph of the Allied forces in defeating fascism in Europe.

On VE Day in 1945, the streets of Britain came alive with spontaneous celebrations. In London, vast crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to cheer on Winston Churchill, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and other members of the Royal Family. Unbeknownst to the public at the time, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were secretly allowed to leave the Palace to join the jubilant crowds anonymously – an experience which our beloved former monarch later called ‘one of the most memorable nights of [her] life’. The day was declared a national holiday, with street parties, music, and dancing going on well into the night, while St Paul’s Cathedral held continuous services to thousands of attendees expressing their gratitude to the heroes who fought and remembering the many lives tragically lost.

This year marked eighty years since VE Day, an historic milestone commemorated with four days of national events which began on Monday, 5th May. First, His Majesty King Charles III led commemorations in central London, joined by other Senior Royals. The event included a military procession, an exciting Red Arrows flypast, and a tea party for veterans and their families at Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday, a special display of 30,000 ceramic poppies was unveiled at the Tower of London. Then, on the exact anniversary of VE Day, a thanksgiving service was held at Westminster Abbey, including a two-minute silence to remember all those who fought. Events concluded with a spectacular concert on Horse Guards Parade, sharing poignant stories of WWII through music and attended by thousands of members of the public. Across the UK, communities also united to mark the occasion with street parties and community events, echoing the jubilant celebrations of 1945.