Latest news with #CommonwealthWarGravesTorchforPeace
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
VE Day 80th anniversary ceremony to begin with flypast and military procession in central London
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Keir Starmer has praised the 'selfless dedication' of those who have served in the military before the anniversary of VE Day as the government unveiled a new £50m support system for veterans. In an open letter to mark 80 years since the end of the second world war in Europe, the prime minister said the sacrifice made by members of the armed forces was a debt that could 'never fully be repaid'. He said the country would show how thankful it was during events to commemorate VE Day, which signalled the end of fighting on 8 May 1945. 'It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil,' Starmer wrote. 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.' Starmer said his thoughts would turn both to those who served in the second world war and those who carried 'the torch of their legacy' today. 'Alongside our history and our values, service is the other great force that binds a nation together,' he said. 'So this week, I want you to know: the whole nation is inspired by the selfless dedication of your example.' Share Midday BST: The ceremony begins in Parliament Square when Big Ben strikes midday, and an actor will recite extracts from the iconic Winston Churchill VE Day speech. A young person will then pass the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace to Alan Kennett, 100, a Second World War veteran who served in the Normandy campaign. The Torch for Peace is an enduring symbol, honouring the contributions made by individuals, which will act as a baton to pass and share stories to future generations. At 12.10 BST The procession will make its way to Buckingham Palace. 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 which will be dressed in Union Flags, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall through to Buckingham Palace where the procession will finish. They will be followed by a tri-service procession group featuring marching members of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force. Cadets from all three services and other uniformed youth groups will also take part in the procession to ensure the message of VE Day is handed down to a new generation. The Prime Minister and Second World War veterans supported by the Royal British Legion will watch the procession from a specially built dais on the Queen Victoria Memorial. The King and Queen will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales to watch the procession At 1.45pm BST a flypast featuring the Red Arrows and current and historic aircraft will take place The King and Queen will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans, families and members of the wartime generation. VE Day 80 street parties, picnics and community events will take place around the country. Share Welcome to live coverage of the UK commemorations of VE Day. On 8 May 1945, Winston Churchill announced that the war in Europe was over and crowd took to the streets to celebrate. Commemorative evens will be held across the UK and further afield over the next week to mark the anniversary with a procession down Whitehall and a flypast from the Red Arrows over central London later today. There will be a service in Westminster Abbey on Thursday and, in August, another commemoration of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). Share Explore more on these topics
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
VE Day 2025 LIVE: King Charles and royal family set to lead nation in 80th anniversary celebration
Today marks 80 years since Winston Churchill made a long-awaited announcement - that the scourge of war that had gripped the world for six cruel years was finally at an end. To mark the momentous anniversary, the UK has a day of pageantry on the cards, with events planned to honour those who gave their lives during World War Two to stop fascism in its tracks. But with the rise of ugly ideologies like those peddled by Adolf Hitler making an appearance across the globe, today's celebrations seem more poignant than ever. A group of veterans has wisely reminded us "to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again". Kicking off events today, a monumental procession of more than 1,300 Armed Forces personnel, uniformed services and young people will march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square, where Churchill's iconic VE Day speech will be read by an actor at midday. Second World War veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace. Nexy, His Majesty and Queen Camilla will watch a Bank Holiday procession and fly-past from the Red Arrows. 07:12Ryan Fahey How Britain will mark VE Day 80: Red Arrows flypast and events across the country It is nearly eight decades since Winston Churchill drew the curtain on war in Europe – before telling a huge crowd: 'This is your victory.' And next week Britain will commemorate VE Day's momentous anniversary with a display of characteristic pageantry. Events will honour the dead; those who gave their lives in World War Two to defeat fascism. But they will also remind us, as a group of veterans has poignantly conveyed, that 'to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again'. Here, we give you the rundown on what's happening… Military Procession Bank Holiday Monday will see a procession of over 1,300 Armed Forces, uniformed services and young people march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. At midday an actor will recite extracts from Churchill's VE Day speech. Second World War veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace. Public invited to VE Day 80 fly-past and procession – exact timing and locations The King and Queen will join Second World War veterans to watch a Bank Holiday procession and fly-past featuring the Red Arrows to mark 80 years since VE Day. The public are being invited to line the Mall for the May 5 event, which will see over 1,300 people including Armed Forces members marching to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. Big Ben striking midday will mark the beginning, with extracts from Winston Churchill's VE Day speech recited by an actor. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed a Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The King and Queen are set to join World War Two veterans, as well as PM Keir Starmer, to watch proceedings from a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial. Other Royals will watch too, including Prince William and Kate.
Business Mayor
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
‘This is your victory': Churchill's VE Day radio address to be broadcast by Timothy Spall
Eighty years after Winston Churchill addressed the nation from Downing Street with the words 'This is your victory!' a recitation of his famous VE Day speech will be broadcast as the nation commemorates the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. Events across four days of national UK commemorations include a military procession through central London on Monday, with tens of thousands expected to line the route from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace, and a service at Westminster Abbey on the 8 May anniversary on Thursday. Timothy Spall as Churchill in The King's Speech. Photograph: Cinetext/Allstar Collection/Momentum Pictures/Allstar The actor Timothy Spall, who portrayed Churchill in the film The King's Speech, will read extracts from the wartime prime minister's VE Day broadcast on Monday, as the Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, formally starts the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace. More than 1,300 members of the armed forces and youth groups will march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace watched by the king and queen, senior royals, the prime minister and a number of second world war veterans. Members of the royal family will then watch a flypast from the palace balcony where, 80 years ago, George VI, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret made multiple appearances before a cheering crowd. Later, Charles and Camilla will host a tea party reception for about 50 veterans and members of the second world war generation at Buckingham Palace. The Cenotaph, the nation's focal point of remembrance, will be bedecked in union flags for the duration of the four-day commemorations, echoing the 1920 unveiling of the monument to the fallen. VE Day 80 street parties, barbecues and get-togethers have been organised by communities across the country, including a party on HMS Belfast, from which were fired some of the opening shots on D-day in 1944 and which protected Arctic convoys during the war. An installation of ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London on Tuesday, comprising 30,000 of the original poppies from the 2014 display. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament. A Scotland Salutes VE80 concert will take place at Usher Hall in Edinburgh. On Wednesday, the Parliament Choir will host a Victory in Europe Day anniversary concert in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster. At a VE Day event at the Imperial War Museum North in Greater Manchester, jointly produced by the IWM and the National Theatre, a performance will be based on wartime letters submitted by members of the public. A national service of remembrance will be held at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. Winston Churchill is mobbed by crowds in London after his VE Day broadcast. Photograph: Northcliffe Collection/ANL/Rex/Shutterstock The actual anniversary on Thursday will be marked with a service at Westminster Abbey, to begin with a national two-minute silence. Commemoration events will conclude with a concert at Horse Guards Parade attended by about 10,000 people. The concert will feature stars of stage and screen including John Newman and dames Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock, as well as military musicians, and tell the story of victory and the legacy of the second world war in Europe. Read More Red Bull appoints Havas Media Network to UK account Looking ahead to the commemorations, the 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.' skip past newsletter promotion Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on 8 May each year, marks the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. With German surrender eagerly anticipated, many had already draped their houses with bunting and bought union flags. On VE Day 1945, the then Princess Elizabeth, dressed in her Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, slipped out of the palace and joined the cheering crowds outside incognito. She once described it as 'one of the most memorable nights of my life'. This will be the first significant VE Day anniversary without her. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said: '80 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 Guardian
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘This is your victory': Churchill's VE Day radio address to be broadcast by Timothy Spall
Eighty years after Winston Churchill addressed the nation from Downing Street with the words 'This is your victory!' a recitation of his famous VE Day speech will be broadcast as the nation commemorates the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. Events across four days of national UK commemorations include a military procession through central London on Monday, with tens of thousands expected to line the route from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace, and a service at Westminster Abbey on the 8 May anniversary on Thursday. The actor Timothy Spall, who portrayed Churchill in the film The King's Speech, will read extracts from the wartime prime minister's VE Day broadcast on Monday, as the Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, formally starts the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace. More than 1,300 members of the armed forces and youth groups will march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace watched by the king and queen, senior royals, the prime minister and a number of second world war veterans. Members of the royal family will then watch a flypast from the palace balcony where, 80 years ago, George VI, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret made multiple appearances before a cheering crowd. Later, Charles and Camilla will host a tea party reception for about 50 veterans and members of the second world war generation at Buckingham Palace. The Cenotaph, the nation's focal point of remembrance, will be bedecked in union flags for the duration of the four-day commemorations, echoing the 1920 unveiling of the monument to the fallen. VE Day 80 street parties, barbecues and get-togethers have been organised by communities across the country, including a party on HMS Belfast, from which were fired some of the opening shots on D-day in 1944 and which protected Arctic convoys during the war. An installation of ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London on Tuesday, comprising 30,000 of the original poppies from the 2014 display. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament. A Scotland Salutes VE80 concert will take place at Usher Hall in Edinburgh. On Wednesday, the Parliament Choir will host a Victory in Europe Day anniversary concert in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster. At a VE Day event at the Imperial War Museum North in Greater Manchester, jointly produced by the IWM and the National Theatre, a performance will be based on wartime letters submitted by members of the public. A national service of remembrance will be held at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. The actual anniversary on Thursday will be marked with a service at Westminster Abbey, to begin with a national two-minute silence. Commemoration events will conclude with a concert at Horse Guards Parade attended by about 10,000 people. The concert will feature stars of stage and screen including John Newman and dames Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock, as well as military musicians, and tell the story of victory and the legacy of the second world war in Europe. Looking ahead to the commemorations, the 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.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on 8 May each year, marks the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. With German surrender eagerly anticipated, many had already draped their houses with bunting and bought union flags. On VE Day 1945, the then Princess Elizabeth, dressed in her Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, slipped out of the palace and joined the cheering crowds outside incognito. She once described it as 'one of the most memorable nights of my life'. This will be the first significant VE Day anniversary without her. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said: '80 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.'
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Public invited to VE Day 80 fly-past and procession – exact timing and locations
The procession to mark the VE Day anniversary will feature more than 1,300 people including members of the Armed Forces as they march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square The King and Queen will join Second World War veterans to watch a Bank Holiday procession and fly-past featuring the Red Arrows to mark 80 years since VE Day. The public are being invited to line the Mall for the May 5 event, which will see over 1,300 people including Armed Forces members marching to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. Big Ben striking midday will mark the beginning, with extracts from Winston Churchill's VE Day speech recited by an actor. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed a Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The King and Queen are set to join World War Two veterans, as well as PM Keir Starmer, to watch proceedings from a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial. Other Royals will watch too, including Prince William and Kate. On the same day, the King and Queen will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans and members of the Second World War generation. Mr Kennett, who travelled to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year, said: 'It is a huge honour to be part of the military procession to start the VE80 commemorations. "I remember Battle of Britain pilot Johnnie Johnson bursting in and shouting 'the war is over'. A big party soon followed, filled with lots of drinking and celebrating the news. The 80th anniversary of VE Day brings back so many memories, and it will be such a privilege to be there with everyone.' The torch to be handed to Mr Kennett is said by the government to be 'an enduring symbol, honouring the contributions made by individuals' – acting 'as a baton to pass and share stories to future generations'. Thousands of members of the public are expected to view the military procession along the Mall. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will lead the procession. A group featuring members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force will follow. And cadets from all three services, as well as other uniformed youth groups, will take part. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall and past the Cenotaph, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace. The fly-past will feature a Voyager transport aircraft, a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, as well as Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets. Second World War-era aircraft will also take part and the flypast is said to be culminating 'with the iconic red, white, and blue smoke of the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows'. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'VE Day 80 is a chance for us to come together and celebrate our veterans and ensure their legacy of peace is passed on to future generations. 'Whether by watching on TV or having a street party with neighbours, everyone can take part. This is one of the last chances we have to say thank you to this generation of heroes and it is right that we do just that.' Defence Secretary John Healey added: 'As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, I look forward to joining our veterans, serving Armed Forces personnel and young people to remember the remarkable generation who defended the freedoms we enjoy today. Our whole nation is invited to join together to reflect on the sacrifices of all those who fought for peace and ensure their legacy is never forgotten.' And Director General of the Royal British Legion Mark Atkinson 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.' On May 8, which will be 80 years to the day since the end of World War Two in Europe, a service will take place at Westminster Abbey. A concert will be held in the evening on Horse Guards Parade – with stars telling the story of the end of the war. On May 6, the Queen will visit the Tower of London to view a new display of ceramic poppies.
