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 marks eight decades since VE Day, an historic milestone which will be commemorated with four days of national events starting on Monday, 5th May. King Charles III is expected to lead a service at the Cenotaph, accompanied by other Royals, veterans, and a military procession, followed by a spectacular Red Arrows flypast in the year the team marks their 60th anniversary. 30,000 ceramic poppies, symbolic of remembrance for over a century, will be installed at the Tower of London, and a star-studded concert at Westminster Hall will share poignant tales from WWII through musical storytelling. Official commemorations will conclude with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. Throughout the week, the public will also be encouraged to host street parties and community events, echoing the widespread celebrations of eighty years ago.