King calls for global commitment to peace at VE Day 80th anniversary concert
King Charles delivered a speech on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, as ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports
The King echoed the words of his grandfather in a televised speech to mark VE Day, honouring those who brought peace to Europe 80 years ago.
Charles delivered his speech at the VE Day concert on Horse Guards Parade at 9pm on Thursday - the exact time King George VI spoke to the nation in a radio broadcast on May 8 1945, to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Calling for a global commitment to restoring peace, he described the allied victory as “a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny."
“It is now 80 years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that ‘the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes’. The liberation of Europe was secured,” Charles said.
“His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.
“While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.”
In a lighter moment, the King joked to the concert-goers that he did not have the energy to “lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace”.
Reading an extract from his late mother Queen Elizabeth II’s personal diary about how she famously celebrated and danced incognito among the crowds in London on VE Day as a teenage princess, Charles said: “‘Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am!’”
He quipped, prompting laughter from the audience: “I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2am, let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace.”
There were smiles from the Prince and Princess of Wales, who stood watching from the royal box, joined by Queen Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Famous faces such as Fleur East, Strictly dancers Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington, The Darkness and actor Brian Cox were among the performers at the VE Day: A Celebration To Remember event, televised live on the BBC.
The event concluded four days of commemorative events to mark the anniversary.
Earlier on Thursday, Charles left a floral tribute at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, close to Westminster Abbey’s west door, on behalf of the nation and Commonwealth, during a poignant moment.
A handwritten message from the King, recognising those who fought and died in the Second World War, read: “We will never forget.”
A national two-minute silence was observed before the simple ceremony, and among the congregation were veterans of the conflict who helped to defeat fascism on the continent during a war that lasted almost six years.
The Prince of Wales left a wreath a few moments after his father, in a tribute to Second World War veterans and the generation who lived through the conflict.
Both wreaths featured flowers which would have been in bloom in May 1945.
William and his wife left a handwritten note with their wreath, which read: ”For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them.”
Standing beside them was Ken Hay, 99, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment.
Among the guests at the service were the Queen, the Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
After almost six years of fighting against Hitler's Nazi regime, peace was declared as wartime prime minister Sir Winton Churchill made a speech on the radio declaring victory in Europe.
On Thursday, Churchill's great-great-grandson, ten-year-old Alexander Churchill, lit a candle of peace at Westminster Abbey, as young members of the congregation handed out white roses to Second World War veterans.
In town squares, civic halls and churches across the country, town criers read the VE Day proclamations as church bells tolled, flags are raised and beacons are lit to honour veterans and their generation.
At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, a remembrance service and tea party were held for veterans by the Royal British Legion and hosted by TV presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin.
Among them was Britain’s oldest surviving Second World War veteran, Donald Rose, who celebrated his 110th birthday on Christmas Eve.
He was joined by veteran Bernard Morgan, 101, who received a telex two days before VE Day in 1945 explaining the war was over. He had to keep it secret for two more days until it was officially announced.
The celebration was also attended by husband and wife veterans Roy, 100, and Kathleen Lawrence, 101, who both served in the RAF during the Second World War. They have been married for 74 years and are believed to be one of Britain's oldest living couples.
Across the regions, veterans have spoken to ITV News about their experiences.
Ken Cooke, the last remaining D-Day veteran living in York, recounted the day his boat landed on the Normandy beaches.
"You could hardly see the beach for dust and smoke and explosions," he said.
Mr Cooke went to visit the Normandy graves to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Elsewhere, the families of two Spitfire pilots - Bobby Oxspring and Jimmy Corbin - who fought in the Battle of Britain together, met for the first time to share memories of their relatives.
In Wales, two women who live just ten minutes apart have reunited at the age of 101 to share their memories of working as codebreakers at Bletchley Park.
Kathleen Morris and Gwenfron Picken only recently found out they both worked at the secretive intelligence facility.
Those living in the Channel Islands prepare to celebrate liberation day from Nazi occupation on Friday.
Edith Daghorn reflects on her childhood growing up under German occupation and the struggles islanders felt.
Annie Duplock lied about her age to join the land army, and she remembers the hard work she carried out during the war.
More than 80,000 women were enlisted to help run the farms across the country in jobs traditionally done by men. The effort was directed from Balcombe place in Sussex.
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