The King will celebrate “our greatest generation” on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in an historic speech at the exact date and time his grandfather, King George VI, announced the end of World War II
The King will celebrate “our greatest generation” on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in an historic speech at the exact date and time his grandfather, King George VI, announced the end of World War II.
At 9pm on May 8, Charles will deliver a live address to the nation at a concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, to conclude the national VE Day commemorations. The concert, broadcast live next Thursday on BBC One at 8pm, will include performances, readings and poignant moments that will tell the story of VE Day and the nation’s reaction to the end of the Second World War 80 years ago. More than 12,500 people are expected to be in attendance, including a number of Second World War veterans.
Royal sources say the King has personally penned the address that will pay tribute to the sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.
An insider with knowledge of the speech said: “It will be a fitting tribute to our greatest generation.” The concert, presented by Zoe Ball, will see performances from British artists including Samantha Barks, Fleur East, Calum Scott and Tom Walker, singing songs from the era with re-enactments of the celebrations 80 years ago.
Six professionals from Strictly Come Dancing including dancer and cancer campaigner Amy Dowden, to “bring the stage to life with breathtaking choreography.” Dames Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock will lend their voices to the commemoration, while actor Brian Cox will deliver a powerful reenactment of Winston Churchill’s iconic wartime speech, which preceded King George’s address.
Four days of national commemorations to the Second World War generation kick off in London tomorrow with a recital of iconic Winston Churchill speeches by Hollywood actor Timothy Spall.
Timothy Spall will start the events by reading extracts from Churchill’s iconic VE Day victory speech in 1945. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will formally start the procession after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves’ Torch For Peace by Air Cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones.
The procession, featuring more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups will march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace where Their Majesties The King and Queen, as well as Members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister and a number of Second World War veterans will be on a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial.
A fly past, which Members of the Royal Family will watch from the Balcony at Buckingham Palace, will conclude Monday’s events. From 9pm on Tuesday evening, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark VE 80. Buildings include Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Canary Wharf’s 1 Canada Square, the Shard, Lowther Castle, Rochester Cathedral, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle, Senedd, Perth Bridge, City Chambers and Belfast City Hall.
On Thursday, a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence, which is expected to be replicated across the nation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity. A time to celebrate that hard won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom. Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation. This week, we come together to salute their service.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “80 years ago millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe. This week, we will recreate this moment across towns and cities, in our homes, in pubs and on our streets. We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten. We must not forget the hardships, the heroics and the millions who lost their lives. We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured. This week, I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them.”
