Beneath the solemn gaze of Sir Winston Churchill’s statue and under the chimes of Big Ben at noon, Britain paid tribute to one of the most pivotal moments in modern history: the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. In an emotional and grand ceremony that unfolded across central London on Monday, military pageantry blended with poignant remembrance, honouring the generation that bore witness to the final triumph of the Second World War in Europe.
For the first time since its unveiling in 1920, the Cenotaph stood draped in the Union flag, a powerful symbol of sacrifice and unity. Crowds filled the Mall, waving red, white, and blue as they watched a 1,300-strong military procession, massed bands, and flypasts that stirred echoes of both celebration and sorrow.
VVIP Veterans Take Centre Stage
While Buckingham Palace served as the visual epicentre of the day’s spectacle, the true heart of the event belonged to the dwindling number of Second World War veterans, VVIP guests whose presence carried the weight of lived history. A palace tea party hosted by the King and Queen brought together 30 veterans, aged 98 to 104, and others who endured the war years, from former prisoners of war to agents of Churchill’s secret army.
Among them was 100 year old Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, who opened the commemorations by carrying the Commonwealth War Graves torch for peace. “The whole place erupted,” he said, recalling the moment he and his unit learned of the German surrender in 1945. “It became one great party.”
Generations United in Remembrance
As actor Timothy Spall read excerpts from Churchill’s iconic victory speech, “My dear friends, this is your hour”, a hush fell over the crowd, and memories decades old seemed to hang palpably in the spring air.
Prince George, attending with his parents, represented the new generation. The Prince of Wales stressed the importance of preserving veterans’ stories for posterity as he spoke with Alfred Littlefield, a 101 year old Royal Engineers veteran. “It’s very important,” William said, “for George and the next generation to hear these stories.”
Echoes of War in Today’s World
This year’s VE Day events, stretching over four days, do not only look to the past. A Ukrainian military detachment, selected from those training under the UK’s armed forces programme, marched in a moving nod to the ongoing conflicts still ravaging parts of the world, a stark reminder that peace remains fragile and hard-won.
Downing Street Joins the Celebrations
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a tea party in Downing Street for war-era guests, featuring a classic British spread of Victoria sponge cake, scotch eggs, and pork pies. “These moments allow us to reflect not just on triumph but on the resilience and unity that carried us through,” Starmer said.
Living Testimonies of Courage
Among the many living witnesses was Bernard Morgan, a 101-year-old RAF codebreaker, who had received news of Germany’s impending surrender via a secret telegram two days before VE Day. “German war now over, surrender effective sometime tomorrow,” the message had read. “It’s so important,” he said, “that we make the most of these opportunities to remember… to ensure that such horrors never happen again.”
Another guest, Joyce Wilding, 100, who served in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and SOE, recalled the joyous chaos of VE Day in 1945: “There were soldiers up lamp-posts, it was extraordinary.”
Looking Back, Marching Forward
Monday’s events culminated in a stirring flypast over the Mall, featuring 23 aircraft from past and present, including the iconic Lancaster Bomber and the Red Arrows streaking the sky with patriotic colour. As the royals waved from the balcony and cheers echoed down the Mall, Britain looked back with pride and forward with resolve — vowing never to forget the price of peace, nor the courage of those who paid it.
