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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
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Sir Keir Starmer marks 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans for their ‘greatest victory'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR Keir Starmer has marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans for their 'greatest victory'. The PM has penned an open letter to the last of the generation on the day millions take to the nation's streets to mark Victory in Europe Day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans 2 D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace The Labour leader writes: 'This week we celebrate the greatest victory our Armed Forces ever secured . . . a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.' Thousands of street parties are taking place to honour the war generation. Up to 20,000 are expected at the Royal British Legion-arranged VE Fest 80 in Blackburn. In London's Docklands — a target for sustained bombing in the Blitz — the Bengali community is organising an event. Thirty war veterans, aged from 98 to 104, will take tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace. Among them will be Joyce Wilding, 100, who was in a covert resistance force, and Ruth Bourne, 98, who helped decrypt Nazi messages at Bletchley Park. Both were among the VE Day crowds in London in 1945. Before the party, 1,300 service personnel, including Ukrainian fighters and troops from 11 Nato nations, will parade from Parliament Square to the Palace. D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace. Brits to get Bank Holiday bonanza this year to celebrate VE Day with star-studded concert, flypast & 4 days of events
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Sir Keir Starmer marks 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans for their ‘greatest victory'
SIR Keir Starmer has marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans for their 'greatest victory'. The PM has penned an open letter to the last of the generation on the day millions take to the nation's streets to mark 2 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans 2 D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace The Labour leader writes: 'This week we celebrate the greatest victory our Armed Forces ever secured . . . a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.' Thousands of street parties are taking place to honour the war generation. Up to 20,000 are expected at the Royal British Legion-arranged VE Fest 80 in Blackburn. READ MORE ON VE DAY In London's Docklands — a target for sustained bombing in the Blitz — the Bengali community is organising an event. Thirty war veterans, aged from 98 to 104, will take tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace. Among them will be Joyce Wilding, 100, who was in a covert resistance force, and Ruth Bourne, 98, who helped decrypt Nazi messages at Bletchley Park. Both were among the Most read in The Sun Before the party, 1,300 service personnel, including Ukrainian fighters and troops from 11 Nato nations, will parade from Parliament Square to the Palace. D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace. Brits to get Bank Holiday bonanza this year to celebrate VE Day with star-studded concert, flypast & 4 days of events Sir Keir Starmer's open letter in full To our veterans, As we approach the VE Day anniversary, I want to salute your ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe. This week, we celebrate the greatest victory our armed forces ever secured. And like so many families across the country, my relatives served and fought in the Second World War. Therefore, it is the highest honour of my role to meet veterans of that conflict. I think of people like Stanley Fisher and Mervyn Kersch, two Jewish veterans of the Normandy landings, who went on to become eyewitnesses to the horrors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in the early days of its liberation by British forces. Their stories – and countless others we will hear this week – are a reminder that our victory was not just for Britain. It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid. Yet as the nation falls silent on Thursday, I know that my mind will also turn to those who carry the torch of their legacy in our armed forces today – people like you. As time marches on, we all have a responsibility to renew the bonds of our history so that future generations inherit our national story as their own. But alongside our history and our values, service is the other great force that binds a nation together. So this week, I want you to know: the whole nation is inspired by the selfless dedication of your example. It is not just that you keep us all safe. It is also that you represent the best of who we are. A living link of service that unites the values we must stand for in the present, with the stories we must pass down from our past. Furthermore, I know that this is not without sacrifice. I will always remember the conversation I had with a sub-mariner in Faslane, who brought home exactly what over 200 days a year underwater means for the simple things most families take for granted. Missing birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. Not being there in the photographs. From the Carrier Strike Group at sea, to our postings in Estonia, Cyprus and here in the UK, every service man and woman I have met has had a version of this story. And I recognise that this too is a debt that can never fully be repaid. But this week, the country will show you just how thankful we all are. Because we know, that without your service, the freedom, peace and joy that these celebrations embody, would not be possible. So, wherever you are, wherever you serve, have a wonderful VE Day. And on behalf of a proud and grateful nation: thank you for your service.
Glasgow Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
VE Day 80: Events planned with Red Arrows and procession
The events will see thousands of people line the streets of central London with a special procession that Sir Keir Starmer and the royal family will watch. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport plans include a Churchill speech performance, a flypast by the Red Arrows and aircraft used to support Ukraine, and a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy encouraged the public to get involved, saying the planned celebrations for Monday, May 5 were a 'chance for us to come together and celebrate our veterans and ensure their legacy of peace is passed on to future generations'. Is your VE Day 80 event on the map? Share the details of your local event to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on our interactive map Find out more about how to get involved: #Victory80 — Department for Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) April 19, 2025 Government reveals plans for VE Day According to the plans, a procession will start in Parliament Square with the recitation of Winston Churchill's famous VE Day speech the moment Big Ben strikes noon. Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Second World War veteran who served in Normandy, will then be handed the Torch for Peace from a young person, before the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery lead a procession from Parliament Square down Whitehall. Mr Kennett, who travelled to Normandy with the Royal British Legion for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, called it a 'huge honour' and said the day 'brings back so many memories'. Going past the Cenotaph, the procession will then proceed through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, watched by Sir Keir and veterans at the Queen Victoria Memorial. 2025 marks 80 years since VE Day and VJ Day. We're calling on WWII veterans to join us for our commemorations to mark these historic anniversaries. If you're a carer or have a family member who served, please register their interest here ⬇️ — Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) January 3, 2025 The King and Queen will also watch the military procession and flypast, and will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke of Kent. Young cadets from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force will be part of the procession. The Government is encouraging members of the public to gather on the Mall and said it is hoping to see 'thousands' of people line the streets. From there, the audience will be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows and more than 20 current and historic military aircraft. This year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Find out how you can get involved: ➡️Explore: toolkits for schools ➡️Share: your Letters to Loved Ones ➡️Prepare: your Tip Top Town ➡️Add: your events to the map#VE80 #Victory80https:// — Department for Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) April 23, 2025 The show will include planes which have been involved in tensions with Russia, including P8 Poseidons, which conduct reconnaissance missions surveying Russian vessels near UK waters, and Voyager aircraft which deliver equipment to Ukrainian forces and fly Ukrainian recruits to the UK for training. Also set to perform are Typhoon fast jets, which are a key part of Nato Air Policing, and fifth-generation F-35 Lightning fighter jets. Defence Secretary John Healey said: '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.' Later that day, Charles and Camilla will host a tea party reception for around 50 veterans and members of the Second World War generation at Buckingham Palace. Recommended Reading This will include British and Commonwealth Armed Forces veterans and women's Royal Navy Wrens, as well as the same royal family members and Sir Keir. The palace's Marble Corridor will be decorated in bunting made from recycled fabrics. Street parties, picnics and community celebrations are also being encouraged across the country.
Metro
25-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
When is VE Day 2025 and is it a bank holiday in the UK?
Thousands of people are set to line the streets in London to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day next month. The celebrations will cap off a week of commemorative events 80 years after the Second World War came to an end on May 8, 1945. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Royal Family will also be in the audience for the Red Arrows flypast, a Churchill speech performance, and a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces. The procession will begin in Parliament Square, with a recital of Winston Churchill's famous VE Day speech the moment Big Ben strikes noon. Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old World War II veteran who served in Normandy, will then be handed the Torch for Peace before the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery lead a procession down Whitehall. Mr Kennett, who travelled to Normandy with the Royal British Legion for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, called it a 'huge honour' and said the day 'brings back so many memories'. While Victory in Europe (VE) Day is officially May 8 – the date the Second World War came to an end in 1945 – commemorations will kick off on the May bank holiday from Monday May 5. Celebrators will be able to see the Cenotaph draped Union flags, as well as a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace. May day also promises an RAF flypast over London. That Thursday on May 8, there will be a party at Horse Guards Parade showed live on BBC One. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the industry is looking forward to a boost from the extended pub hours. He added: 'As someone with a strong family background in the armed forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served. 'VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together. 'At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.' Monday May 5 Union jacks will be draped over the Cenotaph and a military procession will take place from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace. Street parties will be held across the country on the bank holiday. Tuesday May 6 The moving display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, first installed to mark the centenary of the First World War in 2014, will return to the historic fortress. Wednesday May 7 A Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert will be held in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the Parliament Choir. Thursday May 8 A service will take place at Westminster Abbey which will serve as both 'an act of shared remembrance and a celebration of the end of the war'. A concert will also take place at Horseguards Parade to mark the end of commemorations. Friday August 15 Marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, a service will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum. The Royal British Legion will partner with the government to honour those who died in the war in the Far East. Plus, pubs and bars that usually close at 11pm can keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday, May 8. Keir Starmer said of the plan: 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all. 'Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.' This is not the first time pub opening hours have been relaxed for major UK celebrations. Opening hours were extended last summer when England's football aces reached the semi-finals of the Euros. More Trending The team even made it one step further to the final against Spain – only to crash out 2-1. VE Day itself, May 8, is not a bank holiday. Instead the early May bank holiday, May 5, has been officially dedicated to community celebrations marking the anniversary. These are the upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales for 2025: May 5 – early May bank holiday May 26 – Spring bank holiday August 25 – Summer bank holiday December 25 – Christmas Day December 26 – Boxing Day This article was originally published on April 19, 2025 Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: One of Britain's oldest pubs closes its doors after nearly 500 years MORE: Don't pair Bailey's with your Easter chocolate — try this unexpected drink instead MORE: Weasel testicles used to cure heartbreaking condition by couples in medieval times
