Best VE Day 2025 pictures as Britain marks 80-year anniversary

Yahoo

08-05-2025

The four home nations of the United Kingdom are commemorating VE Day, with 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
On 8 May 1945, the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with bells ringing out across the country and people taking to the streets in jubilation, with crowds famously gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI.
Today, King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Sir Keir Starmer, veterans and others at a national service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, with commemorative events also being held elsewhere across the UK.
A national two-minute silence was held at midday.
In Westminster Abbey, the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales stood motionless around the grave of the Unknown Warrior in solemn tribute to those who died in the conflict, while the 78 veterans amid the 2,000-strong congregation joined in the moment of reflection.
At the end of the two-minute silence, the King laid a wreath at the black marble Grave of the Unknown Warrior, followed by the Prince of Wales.
The King's message read simply: 'We will never forget' and was signed Charles R, while William wrote: 'For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them.' The white card was signed both 'William' and 'Catherine'.
After the wreath laying, a moving letter from Lance Corporal Fredrick Burgess to his seven-year-old son Freddie, written while he was serving in Italy just seven months before he died was read out. An excerpt of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech in which he declared the war in Europe was over was also played in the abbey.
Everyday objects evoking memories of the sacrifices made during the Second World War were carried in a poignant procession to the High Altar. Items included a child's gas mask next to the yellowed cardboard box it was kept in, a sailor's Navy ratings cap, a set of campaign medals, an air raid warden's battered helmet and a volume of the Book of Civilian War listing all civilians killed across the UK during the war.
Churchill's great-great grandson Alexander Churchill, aged 10, later lit the VE Day 80th candle of peace and read a prayer for 'peace in Europe and across the world', and for the 'sacrifice of those who have gone before us to be honoured in the defence of liberty, justice and peace'.
Events were held elsewhere too. In Scotland, the day began with national piper Louise Marshall playing a lament to the fallen at dawn on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh with a service of thanksgiving taking place later at Glasgow Cathedral, with guests including representatives from the military, veterans' organisations, emergency services and religious groups.
Northern Ireland has been holding a range of activities including historical talks, parades and services. Belfast's City Hall was lit up in red on Wednesday night to commemorate the fallen, and will be again on Thursday night.
In Wales, a VE Day 80 service took place at Cardiff's Llandaff Cathedral on Wednesday evening, bringing together about 250 people, including veterans and politicians.
People across the UK also held a two-minute silence in memory of those who died during the conflict.
In Yorkshire, crowds and veterans gathered at the Cenotaph in Paragon Square, Hull – where German bombing raids during the Second World War left 150,000 homeless and 1,200 people dead.
Meanwhile, staff, passengers and members of the public fell silent at major transport hubs across the country, including Glasgow's Central Station and Birmingham New Street.
Commemorations were also held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, which was attended by veterans including the 110-year-old Donald Rose, who survived a bullet to the leg during the D-Day Landings.
RAF veterans Kathleen, 101, and Roy Lawrence, 101, who have been married for 74 years, were also at the memorial event.
The Royal British Legion Commemorative Service, hosted by Baroness Floella Benjamin, was due to commence at 4pm on the Naval Review. Prior to the service, the Royal British Legion welcomed eligible veterans and their families to a private VE Day Tea Party.