Charles celebrates 80 years of the end of World War II
London, May 5 (EFE) – By Judith Mora
King Charles III presided on Monday the start of four days of celebrations in the United Kingdom to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which will culminate with a mass to celebrate VE Day on May 8. It is the first time the sovereign presided over such a commemoration, which comes on the eve of his second coronation anniversary Tuesday, which followed the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022.
Wearing a uniform reminiscent of the one worn by his grandfather, King George VI, on VE Day, May 8, 1945, Charles III received with a military salute the military parade, capped by a fly-past by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
Commemoration of Veterans
The procession on foot and horseback of 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and representatives of the police and emergency services began at noon in Parliament Square after the chimes of Big Ben and a reading by Timothy Spall of an excerpt from the Victory Speech by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1940-1945, 1951-1955).
“My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory for the great British nation as a whole. We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny,” Spall read from the beginning of the speech.
Charles III and Camilla watched the arrival of the military entourage from a box set up in front of Buckingham Palace, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William, and Catherine, and their three children; the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Anne and her husband, Tim Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Kent; and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as other politicians and war veterans.
Later, the royal family went up to the palace’s balcony, where they watched the air show and greeted the crowd gathered on Mall Avenue, many of them dressed in the white, red, and blue colors of the Union Jack.
The spotlight was partly on Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, who were watching the events with curiosity and concentration, surrounded by their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
After the military events, the King and his family hosted a reception with tea and pastries for some 50 veterans from the UK and the Commonwealth in the Palace Marble Room.
Concerts and installations
Commemorative events will continue through Thursday when the UK marks 80 years since Churchill announced victory in Europe, following the formal acceptance of Germany’s surrender by Allied troops.
On Tuesday, an art installation of ceramic poppies (a symbol of remembrance and support for veterans) will be unveiled at the Tower of London.
In the evening, iconic buildings across the UK will be illuminated, including Big Ben, the London Eye, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
On Wednesday, May 7, there will be a choir concert at the Houses of Parliament.
On Thursday, May 8, the Kings and other representatives of the monarchy will attend a service at Westminster Abbey, which will begin with two minutes of national silence.
In the evening, Charles III and Camilla will attend a celebratory concert on the Horse Guard Parade in central London, with an audience of over 10,000 people and performances by veteran artists such as Joan Collins.
During the four days, the Cenotaph monument in Whitehall Avenue, the seat of government, will be covered with British flags in tribute to the fallen at home and abroad. EFE jm/mcd
