King Charles III marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a heartfelt televised speech at a commemorative concert, calling for renewed global unity and peace. His address echoed the
words of his grandfather, King George VI, who spoke to the nation on May 8, 1945, as World War II came to an end in Europe.
Speaking from Horse Guards Parade at 9pm — the same time as George VI’s original radio broadcast — Charles reflected on the historic victory and the sacrifices that made it possible. “It is now 80 years since my grandfather announced that ‘the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes,’” he said. “The liberation of Europe was secured.”
Charles called the Allied triumph “a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny” and urged the world to recommit to peace. He paid tribute to the wartime generation, expressing deep gratitude for their courage and sacrifice. “Our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price,” he said.
The speech was also laced with humor, as the King joked he lacked the stamina to “lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace.”
Reading from Queen Elizabeth II’s wartime diary, Charles shared a lighthearted entry about her VE Day celebrations as a teenager: “Out in the crowd again... Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am!” He quipped that while he hoped the audience would enjoy themselves, he doubted he’d match her energy.
Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other senior royals joined the celebrations, along with performers including Fleur East, actor Brian Cox, and stars from the West End musical Operation Mincemeat. The BBC broadcast the concert live as the finale to four days of national commemorations.
Earlier in the day, the King laid a floral tribute at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior near Westminster Abbey. A handwritten message read: “We will never forget.” A national two-minute silence was observed in remembrance of those who served and died.
Prince William followed with a wreath of his own, accompanied by a note reading: “For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them.” Both wreaths featured blooms native to May 1945.
Ten-year-old Alexander Churchill, a descendant of Sir Winston Churchill, lit a peace candle during a service at Westminster Abbey. Veterans, dignitaries, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were also in attendance.
Commemorations took place across the UK, with town criers reading VE Day proclamations, church bells ringing, and beacons lit in tribute. At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the Royal British Legion hosted a remembrance event featuring Britain’s oldest known WWII veteran, 110-year-old Donald Rose.
Other notable attendees included Bernard Morgan, 101, who had learned of the war’s end via a confidential telex two days before it was officially announced, and Roy and Kathleen Lawrence, a married couple aged 100 and 101 respectively, who both served in the RAF.
Across the country, veterans shared memories with ITV News. In York, Ken Cooke, the last surviving local D-Day veteran, recalled landing in Normandy amid smoke and explosions. Meanwhile, in a heartwarming moment, families of two Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots — Bobby Oxspring and Jimmy Corbin — met for the first time.
In Wales, 101-year-old women Kathleen Morris and Gwenfron Picken reunited after discovering they had both worked as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the war. And in the Channel Islands, preparations began for Liberation Day, with residents like Edith Daghorn reflecting on their wartime experiences under German occupation.
Stories like that of Annie Duplock, who lied about her age to join the Women's Land Army, highlighted the immense contributions of the over 80,000 women who kept Britain’s farms running during the war.
As the nation remembered the sacrifices of the past, the King’s message was clear: peace must never be taken for granted, and the courage of those who fought for it should be honored for generations to come. Photo by Arnaud Bouissou, Wikimedia commons.