Latest news with #CommonwealthWarGraves'
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
George, Charlotte and Louis join royal family for VE Day commemorations
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis made a rare public appearance with their parents William and Kate to see the spectacle which began a few minutes before they arrived at the royal box. The King and Queen are driven along The Mall to attend the armed forces and veterans' parade (Toby Melville/PA) Charles and Camilla led the royal party sitting in the shadow of the Queen Victoria Memorial, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent. Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were sitting nearby, and crowds lined The Mall, with some waiting since early morning to secure a spot to watch events. Actor Timothy Spall read extracts from wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill's VE Day speech and 100-year-old RAF veteran Alan Kennett formally started the parade when he received the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace. VE Day was declared on May 8 1945 and Mr Kennett learnt about the historic news in a cinema when a soldier drove a jeep into the venue and shouted: 'The war is over.' The Mall was the setting for jubilant scenes that day, with the royal family playing a central role in the celebrations as crowds gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace. Kate, Charlotte, George, Louis and William in the royal box (Toby Melville/PA) King George VI and the Queen Mother made eight balcony appearances and were joined by their daughters, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret, who later famously slipped into the crowds in The Mall celebrating the end of hostilities. George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, were last seen together in public at the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham Estate. Louis, who during past public appearances has stolen the show, did not disappoint royal fans and was seen at one moment sticking out his tongue – a trademark gesture for the young royal. He also held William's gold aiguillettes, the braided loops hanging from the shoulder of his RAF uniform, and appeared to touch his father's shoulder again, and also held out his hands palms up as if he was testing for rain, which later fell. When the Waleses and their children took their seats they shook the hand of Royal British Legion veteran Bernard Morgan, who was sitting next to Kate, and he appeared to show her photographs.
Powys County Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
George, Charlotte and Louis join royal family for VE Day commemorations
The Prince and Princess of Wales's children have joined the King, Queen and veterans to watch a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces and Nato allies, past some of London's most famous buildings and monuments and ending at Buckingham Palace, commemorated the service of those who fought to bring peace to Europe and the rest of the world. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis made a rare public appearance with their parents William and Kate to see the spectacle which began a few minutes before they arrived at the royal box. Charles and Camilla led the royal party sitting in the shadow of the Queen Victoria Memorial, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent. Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were sitting nearby, and crowds lined The Mall, with some waiting since early morning to secure a spot to watch events. Actor Timothy Spall read extracts from wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill's VE Day speech and 100-year-old RAF veteran Alan Kennett formally started the parade when he received the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace. VE Day was declared on May 8 1945 and Mr Kennett learnt about the historic news in a cinema when a soldier drove a jeep into the venue and shouted: 'The war is over.' The Mall was the setting for jubilant scenes that day, with the royal family playing a central role in the celebrations as crowds gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace. King George VI and the Queen Mother made eight balcony appearances and were joined by their daughters, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret, who later famously slipped into the crowds in The Mall celebrating the end of hostilities. George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, were last seen together in public at the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham Estate. Louis, who during past public appearances has stolen the show, did not disappoint royal fans and was seen at one moment sticking out his tongue – a trademark gesture for the young royal. He also held William's gold aiguillettes, the braided loops hanging from the shoulder of his RAF uniform, and appeared to touch his father's shoulder again, and also held out his hands palms up as if he was testing for rain, which later fell. When the Waleses and their children took their seats they shook the hand of Royal British Legion veteran Bernard Morgan, who was sitting next to Kate, and he appeared to show her photographs.
Powys County Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Timothy Spall to open VE Day 80 celebrations with Churchill speech
Actor Timothy Spall will open VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations in London on Monday when he recites some of Winston Churchill's victory speech from 1945. The 68-year-old, whose roles include playing Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film series, will read extracts from the speech in which Churchill told Britons 'This is not victory of a party or of any class. 'It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole.' His speech precedes a military procession and flypast over the capital. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will formally start the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The events on bank holiday Monday mark the beginning of four days of celebration across the nation up until Thursday May 8, exactly 80 years since Victory in Europe was declared. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity. 'A time to celebrate that hard won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom. 'Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation. 'This week, we come together to salute their service.' The procession will see more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The King, the Queen, the Prime Minister and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Later, members of the Royal Family will watch the fly past from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. From 9pm on Tuesday, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark the big day, including the Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall. On Thursday, a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Eighty years ago millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe. 'This week, we will recreate this moment across towns and cities, in our homes, in pubs and on our streets. 'We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten. 'We must not forget the hardships, the heroics and the millions who lost their lives. 'We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured. 'This week, I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them.'
The Independent
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Timothy Spall to open VE Day 80 celebrations with Churchill speech
Actor Timothy Spall will open VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations in London on Monday when he recites some of Winston Churchill's victory speech from 1945. The 68-year-old, whose roles include playing Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film series, will read extracts from the speech in which Churchill told Britons 'This is not victory of a party or of any class. 'It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole.' His speech precedes a military procession and flypast over the capital. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will formally start the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The events on bank holiday Monday mark the beginning of four days of celebration across the nation up until Thursday May 8, exactly 80 years since Victory in Europe was declared. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity. 'A time to celebrate that hard won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom. 'Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation. 'This week, we come together to salute their service.' The procession will see more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The King, the Queen, the Prime Minister and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Later, members of the Royal Family will watch the fly past from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. From 9pm on Tuesday, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark the big day, including the Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall. On Thursday, a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Eighty years ago millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe. 'This week, we will recreate this moment across towns and cities, in our homes, in pubs and on our streets. 'We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten. 'We must not forget the hardships, the heroics and the millions who lost their lives. 'We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured. 'This week, I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them.'
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Timothy Spall to open VE Day 80 celebrations with Churchill speech
'It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole.' His speech precedes a military procession and flypast over the capital. Sir Keir Starmer said VE Day 80 is 'a time to celebrate that hard won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom' (Henry Nicholls/PA) Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will formally start the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The events on bank holiday Monday mark the beginning of four days of celebration across the nation up until Thursday May 8, exactly 80 years since Victory in Europe was declared. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity. 'A time to celebrate that hard won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom. 'Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation. 'This week, we come together to salute their service.' The procession will see more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The King, the Queen, the Prime Minister and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Later, members of the Royal Family will watch the fly past from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. From 9pm on Tuesday, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark the big day, including the Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall. Alan Kennett (right) will formally begin the procession on Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA) On Thursday, a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Eighty years ago millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe. 'This week, we will recreate this moment across towns and cities, in our homes, in pubs and on our streets. 'We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten. 'We must not forget the hardships, the heroics and the millions who lost their lives. 'We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured. 'This week, I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them.'
