Today, The King and Queen led the Royals and Nation in remembering those who served in World War Two by marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey. A Service of Thanksgiving was held to honour the occasion.
Their Majesties were joined by The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent.
More than 2,000 people, including 78 veterans and senior public figures, gathered in the historic abbey to commemorate the occasion.
The service honoured and paid tribute to the Second World War generation, with the service conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, and hymns sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.
At the start of the service, the Royal Family joined the congregation and country in a national two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla speak with Second World War veterans and guest following a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025.
For the Service, His Majesty wore a lounge suit with medals and neck order. Whilst, Her Majesty wore a white crepe silk dress and white coat with black stitching by Anna Valentine, with a black and white hat by Philip Treacy. The Queen paired her outfit with Royal Lancers Brooch.
The Prince of Wales wore a suit with Household Division tie and Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order, with his jubilee and coronation medals. Meanwhile, The Princess of Wales opted to chose an Alessandra Rich dress, Juliette Botterill hat and earrings belonging to the late Princess Diana.
The King and Prince of Wales laid wreaths at the start of the Service to mark VE Day. (Royal Family)
The King laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, bearing the handwritten message: “We will never forget.” The Prince of Wales followed with his own tribute. Both wreaths were composed of flowers in bloom during May 1945, reflecting the season of peace hard-won eight decades ago. A message from William and Catherine read: “For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them.”
The Princess Royal and The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh all attended the service. (Royal Family)
The service saw actor Josh Dylan gave a reading of a letter written by Lance Corporal Fredrick Burgess to his young son Freddie while serving in Italy. The letter captured both the humanity and hardship of war. “When I do come home, and it will not be very long now,” Burgess wrote, “I’m going to buy you something extra specially nice for being such a good boy.” The soldier also described the rain and the damage done to his small tank, affectionately named “Freddie II.”
The Prince and the Princess of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. (Royal Family)
A recorded excerpt of Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech played through the Abbey. The wartime leader’s legacy was symbolically honoured by his ten-year-old great-great-grandson, Alexander Churchill, who lit a peace candle and read a prayer for unity and peace. White roses, symbols of peace, were handed to veterans by younger members of the congregation.
Great-great-grandson of Winston Churchill, Alexander Churchill, 10, lights the VE Day 80th Candle of Peace during a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. (Royal Famiily)
After the service, the Royal Family met veterans in the congregation.
Her Majesty also lead other Members of the Royal Family in laying flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial.
The posies featured flowers picked from within the walls of Windsor Castle and the surrounding estate. The chosen flowers included rosemary for remembrance, oak for endurance and bluebells which represent gratitude.
Camilla laying her posy. (Royal Family)
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence lay flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial, following a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025.
Earlier in the day, members of Parliament and peers retraced the footsteps of their wartime predecessors by processing from the House of Commons to Westminster Abbey. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had moved a motion to suspend the House’s sitting to allow this special tribute. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle remarked on the moment, noting how MPs in 1945 had gathered in the Lords after the Commons chamber was destroyed in the Blitz. “Today we shall again follow the mace, but this time from our own chamber through the bomb-scarred Churchill Arch, which stands as a permanent reminder of the fortitude of those who stood firm through the war,” he said.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester lay flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial. (Royal Family)
The Royal Family have been conducting a number of engagements to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Senior members of the Royal Family gathered in London to start the commemorative events in marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day by watching military units take part in a procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace. Following the procession, The King and Queen hosted veterans for a tea party at the Palace – with a surprise appearance from Prince George!
Queen Camilla also visited the Tower of London to view a commemorative display of poppies marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
