UK Commemorates 80th VE Day Anniversary with Nationwide Events

The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day was marked by commemorative events across the UK, featuring prominent royal family members and veterans. A service of thanksgiving and remembrance at Westminster Abbey included a two-minute national silence, wreath-laying by King Charles and Prince William at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, and a candle of peace lit by Alexander Churchill, great-great-grandson of Winston Churchill. Veterans, including Britain’s oldest WWII veteran D-Day veteran Donald Rose and a couple married for 74 years who both served in the RAF, were honored at a tea party and memorial event hosted by the Royal British Legion. The events paid tribute to the sacrifices of those who served and remembered the hardships endured during the war. Wartime anthems such as 'The White Cliffs of Dover' and 'When The Lights Go On Again' featured in the ceremonies to evoke the era’s spirit. These commemorations highlighted both national pride and the enduring importance of peace and remembrance.