Nation salutes wartime heroes' selflessness during VE Day festivities, led by King, Queen, William, and Kate; occasion follows Prince Harry's recent 'reconciliation' overture.
Today, the Royal Family commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London with a grand military parade. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate, and their children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis - joined together during the proceedings. A procession of over 900 members of the armed forces from various countries, including Ukraine, took place from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace. The crowd packed the streets as four days of commemorative events began.
William shook hands with one veteran as he passed, while his children followed suit. King Charles had a warm chat with a 98-year-old woman, Joy Trew, who had served as a wireless operator during the war. Hundreds of street parties were held across the UK, formal military events took place in London, and the Royal Family later watched a flypast of iconic Royal Air Force planes from the palace balcony.
The VE Day plans were in place before Prince Harry's court defeat, which he claimed in a recent interview would mean his family could never return to the UK. Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, posted a black and white photo of him and their children together in apparent solidarity. Meanwhile, the senior royals' united front aims to refocus attention on their unifying role and positive contributions to public life, seeking to divert from Harry's recent statements.
Several events are taking place across the nation, including community tea parties, 1940s dress-up events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships. The Palace of Westminster, the Shard, and Belfast City Hall are among the buildings being lit up for the occasion. A national two-minute silence will take place at Westminster Abbey, where veterans will be part of the congregation. Pubs and bars have been granted permission to stay open for an extra two hours to celebrate the anniversary. Churches and cathedrals will also ring their bells collectively at 6:30 PM as a show of gratitude. This four-day commemoration includes the lighting of about 2,500 beacons across the UK.
- Today's general-news coverage includes videos of the Royal Family's travel to commemorate VE Day, particularly the grand military parade in London.
- Education-and-self-development platforms are providing news and resources about the significance of VE Day, its impact on health, and theКо Royal Family's role in the commemorations.
- In the entertainment segment, several news sources are highlighting the echoing cheers and applause that accompanied the Royal Family during the VE Day commemorations.
- Meanwhile, sources in sports report that UK's sports world has joined the celebrations, with various teams showing solidarity through special VE Day-themed events and commemorations.
- As the Royal Family and soldiers marched, news networks reported live updates, which included coverage of the artillery firing that marked the proceedings, adding a historic touch to the commemoration.
- In the news about the nationwide VE Day celebrations, there are reports of various news agencies offering live updates and special shows about the community tea parties, 1940s-themed events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships.
