London’s historic Horse Guards Parade was transformed to host a poignant event marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined veterans, performers, and 12,000 attendees in a tribute to the generation that secured peace in Europe.Titled ‘VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember’, the concert brought together veterans, royals, performers, and thousands of attendees in a heartfelt tribute to the generation that secured peace in Europe.
The evening concert, broadcast live on BBC One, was hosted by Zoe Ball and served as the grand finale of a week-long series of commemorative events. More than 12,500 people gathered to witness a blend of music, storytelling, and remembrance, honouring the sacrifices and resilience of those who lived through World War II.
The lineup featured a diverse array of performers, including Samantha Barks, Fleur East, John Newman, Freya Ridings, Keala Settle, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Calum Scott, The Darkness, Toploader, Tom Walker, Sir Willard White, and the cast of the WWII musical Operation Mincemeat. Their performances, interwoven with veterans’ personal stories, created a moving tapestry of reflection and celebration.
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Echoing his grandfather and mother in addressing the nation of the anniversary of VE Day, The King took to the stage.
The King’s address, delivered with solemn dignity and heartfelt warmth, paid tribute to the immense human cost of the Second World War, recognising that while ultimate victory was achieved, it came at a price that can never be fully repaid. “We unite to celebrate and remember,” he said, “with unwavering and heartfelt gratitude,” the service of those who fought, those who supported from the Home Front, and those who never came home.
The King addressed the nation on VE Day. (Royal Family)
Throughout, Charles wove a narrative that balanced remembrance with a forward-looking call to responsibility. The commemorations, he noted, were not only about marking history but ensuring its lessons endure, stating ‘as the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles,” he warned, “the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward’.
The King’s speech had a message about what the wartime victory can teach us today in calling for togetherness between different people. He said victory was a ‘result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity. Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.’
His Majesty’s speech was more than commemoration; it was a call to conscience. A call to remember the courage, the sacrifice, and the duty of a generation who, in his words, “fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also present for the concert. (Royal Family)
He quoted his grandfather King George VI: “We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.”
King Charles got a rousing reception when he took to the stage and, on a night of family memories, his speech began with a reference to his own family.
“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,” the King told the audience at the VE Day concert.
His Majesty also spoke about his mother’s experiences of VE Day, who famously went out into the crowds to be amongst the people and the celebrations in 1945. Reflecting on her diary, he noted how Elizabeth had said she ‘mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and ‘walked for miles’ among them.\
“The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote: ‘Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2 am. Bed at 3 am!’”
In turn, The King joked he might not have the energy to sing until 2am or conga back to Buckingham Palace, like his mother did 80 years ago.
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.
