Overview

• A Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey and a commemorative concert at Horse Guards Parade were key highlights of the royal-led VE Day events on May 8, 2025.
• King Charles delivered a speech at the concert, quoting his grandfather King George VI and late mother Queen Elizabeth II, emphasizing the importance of unity and global peace.
• Princess Kate paid tribute to Princess Diana by wearing her Collingwood pearl drop earrings, symbolizing a connection between past and present royal generations.
• Local communities across the UK hosted remembrance services, street parties, and beacon lightings, uniting citizens in honoring the sacrifices of the wartime generation.
• Veterans, including a 107-year-old former bomber pilot, were honored guests at the concert, underscoring the dwindling presence of the WWII generation and the importance of preserving their stories.