King, Starmer Lead Veterans at 80th VE Day Service

The United Kingdom marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a solemn thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey attended by King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and veterans of the Second World War. The ceremony included a national two-minute silence observed by millions, the laying of wreaths featuring flowers in bloom in May 1945 by the King and Prince William, and a reading of Winston Churchill's historic VE Day broadcast. Among those present was 99-year-old Ken Hay, a veteran of the 4th Dorset Infantry Regiment, who was seated near the royal family. The service also featured Winston Churchill’s great-great-grandson lighting the Candle of Peace and leading prayers for global and European peace. Senior royals and former prime ministers were part of the 1,800 guests gathered to honor those who sacrificed for peace, with special attention paid to the message of remembrance and the ongoing threat to the freedoms won during the war. The event was led by the Dean of Westminster, emphasizing the importance of peace and remembrance in today’s world.