What is VE day and how will the King and Queen celebrate it?
The VE Day events will pay tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the Second World War.
It is set to kick off on Monday May 5, with a military procession starting in Parliament Square at midday featuring 1,300 members of the armed forces.
An actor will also recite extracts from Winston Churchill's famous VE Day speech.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will then lead the procession from Parliament Square, down Whitehall and past the Cenotaph, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall through to Buckingham Palace, where the procession will finish.
The Royal Family is set to be front and centre of the commemorations, with Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke of Kent also set to join prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
The Royals will then return to Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past from the balcony, featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft.
The King and Queen will later host a tea party for around 50 veterans and people who lived through the war – this includes British and Commonwealth Armed Forces and those who contributed to the war effort on the home front.
Mark Atkinson, firector general of the Royal British Legion, said: 'The 80th anniversary of VE Day is a special moment for the country and the Royal British Legion is incredibly proud to put Second World War veterans at the heart of the commemorations.
'It's important we remember those who went to war, who fought for the freedom of not just Europe but everywhere, and those who risked their lives and never made it back.'
The commemorations will continue to May 6, where Queen Camilla will view a display of 30,000 ceremonial poppies at the Tower of London.
Then on May 8, the entire Royal Family will gather at Westminster Abbey for a Service of Thanksgiving, where they will lay flowers at the Innocent Victims' Memorial.
Later that evening, the King and Queen will attend a celebratory concert from Horse Guards Parade.
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Wales Online
38 minutes ago
- Wales Online
North Wales café bar perfect for 'leisurely lunch' with posh Welsh rarebit
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Casual dining at its best, the recently opened Social café bar is a lively addition to Rhos on Sea's culinary scene - a "go-to" spot for every occasion. In just a few months this chic new venue in the centre of the charming little North Wales resort has established itself as a versatile destination, offering a selection of mostly classic British fare, with some surprises from other countries, that can be eaten in house or taken away. Customers can indulge in everything from hearty breakfasts, brunch, salads, sandwiches, cakes and pastries to special Friday and Saturday night wood fired pizzas that sell like the proverbial hot cakes! There are veggie, vegan and gluten free options and dietary needs are catered for. Portions are generous, the atmosphere is laid back and prices are affordable. Delicious freshly prepared food in a spacious and inviting setting – Social really delivers - as my former hotelier friend Nerys and I found when we popped in for a leisurely lunch. I had taken the precaution of booking a table- a wise move, for when we arrived just after midday, the place was already busy with couples, groups and ladies who lunched, tucking into attractive looking platters of food and obviously enjoying themselves. (Image: Social) A mouth watering aroma of cooking and coffee filled the air.... all very promising, Nerys and I thought. The brainchild of husband and wife team Jon and Tessa Turner, who come from a well known local catering family, Social opened last March in what had been a branch of Nat West Bank and most recently Johnny Dough's pizza bar. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, remaining open until 8pm for the popular weekend pizza evenings. King of the kitchen is classically trained chef Tom Durkan, who has worked at Watsons Bistro in Conwy and on Disney cruise ships. Nerys and I liked the smart new decor that was an attractive mix of modern style and practicality. Comfortably seating more than 32 people at well spaced wooden topped tables, the ground floor café was spotlessly clean, bright and airy with cream painted walls, distinctive lighting and greenery on the window sills. Mega sized photographs of underwater scenes taken by Tessa's cousin in Australia highlighted the exposed brick wall at the far end of the room. With my friend's car safely parked in the street nearby, we got down to the serious business of deciding what to eat and drink from the extensive a la carte menu. Available until noon, the breakfast menu offered toasted crumpets, freshly baked croissants, poached or scrambled eggs on toast and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on crumpets with chopped cornichons. Served until 3pm, brunch/lunch dishes included full Welsh breakfast, avocado on sourdough, homemade welsh rarebit, a fruity breakfast bowl and even sriracha benny ie poached eggs with a spicy sauce that originated in Thailand . From noon onwards customers can also order cakes and pastries, sandwiches, including the famous New York deli and salads such as classic Caesar, honey glazed goats cheese, tofu and smoked salmon. Affrogato, burnt Basque cheese cake and luxury Welsh ice cream provided a sweet finish. Star attractions on Friday and Saturday evenings are the homemade wood fired pizzas. Vegan cheese is available at no extra cost. Eight different choices priced between £11.50 and £15.95 include classics such as margherita, pepperoni and Hawaiian as well as more unusual spicy beef, truffled mushroom and nduja calabrese piccante, topped with a fiery Italian salami. Licensed for alcohol, the drinks list features beers including artisan Nokota IPA from the Llandudno based Wild Horse Brewery, as well as lagers and cider. Also available are gins, alcoholic and mock cocktails, alternative milks, soft drinks and a carefully chosen selection of international red, white and rose wines sold by the glass from £5.50 for 250ml or bottle from £25. The most expensive vintage – an exceptional Australian red shiraz- was priced at £39. (Image: Social) As Nerys was driving, she selected a bottle of alcohol free Peroni lager and I opted for a latte coffee that went down well with my choice of a house favourite - Welsh rarebit. Priced at £10.95 this, however, was an upmarket version that came on two slices of toasted sourdough bread, topped with pieces of roast ham and finished with chilli jam. Piping hot, rich and creamy, the savoury sauce was given a real kick with a generous slug of Wild Horse Nokota beer. I could have added a poached egg for an extra £1.75 but the dish was fine as it was and went down a treat. Full marks to chef Tom! Nerys went for classic Caesar salad with lots of crisp green leaves and homemade parmesan and sourdough croutons tossed in a tangy dressing. Adding warm pieces of chicken breast for an extra £3.50 transformed the salad into a substantial main course. (Image: Social) 'Absolutely delicious, but far too much for me, I just can't manage it all," Nerys commented sadly. However, customers often take their leftovers away with them and our very helpful server provided my friend with a takeaway box so she could finish the dish at home. Social has a real "feel good" vibe that makes eating and drinking there a pleasure. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this delightful new café bar and plan a return visit in the near future to sample the pizzas. One for the notebook? Most definitely!
North Wales Live
41 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
North Wales café bar perfect for 'leisurely lunch' with posh Welsh rarebit
Casual dining at its best, the recently opened Social café bar is a lively addition to Rhos on Sea's culinary scene - a "go-to" spot for every occasion. In just a few months this chic new venue in the centre of the charming little North Wales resort has established itself as a versatile destination, offering a selection of mostly classic British fare, with some surprises from other countries, that can be eaten in house or taken away. Customers can indulge in everything from hearty breakfasts, brunch, salads, sandwiches, cakes and pastries to special Friday and Saturday night wood fired pizzas that sell like the proverbial hot cakes! There are veggie, vegan and gluten free options and dietary needs are catered for. Portions are generous, the atmosphere is laid back and prices are affordable. Delicious freshly prepared food in a spacious and inviting setting – Social really delivers - as my former hotelier friend Nerys and I found when we popped in for a leisurely lunch. I had taken the precaution of booking a table- a wise move, for when we arrived just after midday, the place was already busy with couples, groups and ladies who lunched, tucking into attractive looking platters of food and obviously enjoying themselves. A mouth watering aroma of cooking and coffee filled the air.... all very promising, Nerys and I thought. The brainchild of husband and wife team Jon and Tessa Turner, who come from a well known local catering family, Social opened last March in what had been a branch of Nat West Bank and most recently Johnny Dough's pizza bar. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, remaining open until 8pm for the popular weekend pizza evenings. King of the kitchen is classically trained chef Tom Durkan, who has worked at Watsons Bistro in Conwy and on Disney cruise ships. Nerys and I liked the smart new decor that was an attractive mix of modern style and practicality. Comfortably seating more than 32 people at well spaced wooden topped tables, the ground floor café was spotlessly clean, bright and airy with cream painted walls, distinctive lighting and greenery on the window sills. Mega sized photographs of underwater scenes taken by Tessa's cousin in Australia highlighted the exposed brick wall at the far end of the room. With my friend's car safely parked in the street nearby, we got down to the serious business of deciding what to eat and drink from the extensive a la carte menu. Available until noon, the breakfast menu offered toasted crumpets, freshly baked croissants, poached or scrambled eggs on toast and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on crumpets with chopped cornichons. Served until 3pm, brunch/lunch dishes included full Welsh breakfast, avocado on sourdough, homemade welsh rarebit, a fruity breakfast bowl and even sriracha benny ie poached eggs with a spicy sauce that originated in Thailand . From noon onwards customers can also order cakes and pastries, sandwiches, including the famous New York deli and salads such as classic Caesar, honey glazed goats cheese, tofu and smoked salmon. Affrogato, burnt Basque cheese cake and luxury Welsh ice cream provided a sweet finish. Star attractions on Friday and Saturday evenings are the homemade wood fired pizzas. Vegan cheese is available at no extra cost. Eight different choices priced between £11.50 and £15.95 include classics such as margherita, pepperoni and Hawaiian as well as more unusual spicy beef, truffled mushroom and nduja calabrese piccante, topped with a fiery Italian salami. Licensed for alcohol, the drinks list features beers including artisan Nokota IPA from the Llandudno based Wild Horse Brewery, as well as lagers and cider. Also available are gins, alcoholic and mock cocktails, alternative milks, soft drinks and a carefully chosen selection of international red, white and rose wines sold by the glass from £5.50 for 250ml or bottle from £25. The most expensive vintage – an exceptional Australian red shiraz- was priced at £39. As Nerys was driving, she selected a bottle of alcohol free Peroni lager and I opted for a latte coffee that went down well with my choice of a house favourite - Welsh rarebit. Priced at £10.95 this, however, was an upmarket version that came on two slices of toasted sourdough bread, topped with pieces of roast ham and finished with chilli jam. Piping hot, rich and creamy, the savoury sauce was given a real kick with a generous slug of Wild Horse Nokota beer. I could have added a poached egg for an extra £1.75 but the dish was fine as it was and went down a treat. Full marks to chef Tom! Nerys went for classic Caesar salad with lots of crisp green leaves and homemade parmesan and sourdough croutons tossed in a tangy dressing. Adding warm pieces of chicken breast for an extra £3.50 transformed the salad into a substantial main course. 'Absolutely delicious, but far too much for me, I just can't manage it all," Nerys commented sadly. However, customers often take their leftovers away with them and our very helpful server provided my friend with a takeaway box so she could finish the dish at home. Social has a real "feel good" vibe that makes eating and drinking there a pleasure. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this delightful new café bar and plan a return visit in the near future to sample the pizzas. One for the notebook? Most definitely!
The Guardian
41 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Channel 5 revives BBC's Play for Today to ‘help shape future of British drama'
It was one of the most influential British television series of the last century, renowned for exploring thorny societal issues and bringing the work of emerging talent, such as Ray Winstone, Alison Steadman, Helen Mirren and Dennis Potter, to mass audiences. Now Play for Today is being revived on Channel 5, to give young writers, actors and producers from lower-income backgrounds a way into TV, helped by established talent. Continuing the series' history of politically charged social realism, the first four productions cover a failing Adolescence-style school in special measures, celebrity and historical abuse, ageing and money, and feature appearances from stars including Anita Dobson, Nigel Havers, Sue Johnston and Alan Davies. The Channel 5 commissioning editor Paul Testar said Play for Today was 'synonymous with high-quality standalone television dramas'. Its revival would help 'shape the future of British drama', he added, providing an 'opportunity to support emerging talent behind the scenes – from writers and directors to production teams – especially those from lower-income backgrounds who haven't always had clear pathways into the industry'. Play for Today was a BBC One anthology drama series that ran from 1970 until 1984, designed 'to rattle the cages of the establishment' and famed for bringing Abigail's Party and Rumpole of the Bailey to the small screen. It featured more than 300 productions, the most controversial of which was Scum – a prison drama starring Winstone that was considered so harrowing it was banned from broadcast and later remade as a film. The drama in which Dobson stars, Never Too Late, is about ageing, rebellion and independence. She told the Guardian it would resonate because '[we] live in a society now where older people are living much longer, so it's really important, I think, that their voices are heard as much as young people's voices'. 'I hope it makes lots of people feel positive and hopeful that life is never over until the last bell rings.' She praised Channel 5, for 'teaching people new skills', and the young crew she worked with on the show, some of whom were on their first production. 'The joy they brought to work was just fantastic. They were willing; they were eager. Nothing was too much trouble.' Dobson said Play for Today was 'a wonderful institution' and lauded Channel 5 'for actually getting this kind of stuff on the screen'. 'More of that in TV would be wonderful, where you've got something really great to say about society and life, which is important.' Sign up to What's On Get the best TV reviews, news and features in your inbox every Monday after newsletter promotion Although TV drama has become increasingly expensive and glossy, Channel 5 has received plaudits for attracting audiences with homegrown series, such as All Creatures Great and Small and the working-class period drama The Hardacres. Its slate for this year includes more than 100 hours of original drama, compared with a handful a few years ago. Channel 5's chief content officer, Ben Frow, said reviving Play for Today 'not only underlines our commitment to being a public service broadcaster, but also enables us to tackle subject matters that reflect some of the thornier issues affecting our audience, like the films in this first slate on a school under pressure from an Ofsted inspection, or the challenges of ageing. 'Just as importantly, as the original Play For Today helped establish the careers of some of Britain's best writers, directors and producers, so we want to do the same – with a particular emphasis on talent from lower-income backgrounds.' The first in the series will air later this year.
