LONDON – Britain is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a series of commemorations, culminating in a service at Westminster Abbey where King Charles and Prince William will lay wreaths.
The thanksgiving service will commence with a two-minute silence at 1100 GMT, observed nationwide, to honor Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945.
The anniversary is being observed amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with events also taking place in France and Germany. Moscow will hold a significant military parade on Friday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking at a defense conference, hailed VE Day as a celebration of defiance, sacrifice, and courage, emphasizing it as “a victory not just for Britain but for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil.
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In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin underscored the “sacred” victory over Adolf Hitler, asserting that Russia stands against “neo-Nazism,” a characterization of the Ukraine conflict strongly contested by Ukraine. Putin is currently meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is attending Russia’s celebrations.
French President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at the statue of Charles de Gaulle in Paris and review a troop parade at the Arc de Triomphe. A parade of World War Two-era vehicles will also proceed down the Champs-Elysees.
In Berlin, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will address the Bundestag in a special remembrance session.
This 80th VE Day anniversary is expected to be one of the last major celebrations with living veterans participating, as most are in their 90s or older.
British veterans will attend the Westminster Abbey service and be greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. Senior royals will lay flowers at a nearby memorial.
Veterans also attended a military parade and flypast near Buckingham Palace on Monday, part of the anniversary events.
King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, and Queen Camilla will attend a concert at Horse Guards Parade for 10,000 people later on Thursday, featuring music and veterans’ stories.
