Friday 8th May 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). This was the day that the second world war ended in Europe, and Britain celebrated victory. Winston Churchill was the prime minister at the time, and he broadcasted a speech that is to be replayed on TV at 3pm on Friday 8th May 2020. This day is to be a bank holiday (the traditional first Monday in May bank holiday being moved to the 8th this year). The Queen will also give a televised address at 9pm, the same time her father gave a speech on that date in 1945. On VE Day, the royal family, that is, the King George VI, the Queen (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Crowds gathered in front of the palace, down the Mall, and all around London. The royal family appeared on the balcony 8 times, as the crowds kept chanting for them.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth had played a huge part in boosting morale throughout the war. They visited the East End of London where the blitz hit the worst, and observed all rationing and blackout rules. Buckingham Palace itself was bombed during the blitz, causing the Queen to say, “I can now look the East End in the face.” The Queen worked tirelessly to boost morale and support the war effort, causing Hitler to refer to her as, “the most formidable woman in Europe.”
Young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret where young children when the war began. They stayed at Windsor Castle, to keep them safe from the Blitz. They gave their first public broadcast when they addressed the nation’s children via radio, encouraging them all during the time of war, especially as many were evacuated and sent away to the country, away from loved ones, to be kept safe.
Towards the end of the war, Princess Elizabeth was old enough to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and learnt how to drive trucks and fix engines. She proudly wore her uniform as she appeared on the balcony on VE Day alongside her family. On her 16th birthday, during the war, Princess Elizabeth was made Colonel in Chief of the Grenadier Guards, and had to inspect them for the first time.
After they appeared on the palace balcony, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret asked their parents if they might head out into the jubilant crowds, incognito, and enjoy the celebrations. Their parents agreed, and the two girls, under the careful watch of assigned army officers, went out into the crowds and had their one and only true taste of what it is to be a normal person.
I think it is great that during times of crisis we have the monarchy to be a figurehead and to help lead us. We also have them as we celebrate these anniversaries and events. How great that the Queen is able to lead us in this anniversary, having been there on VE Day herself.
Members of the Royal Family are expected to have video calls with veterans from World War Two, instead of the veterans march that has had to be cancelled due to coronavirus. The public are encouraged to hold social distancing parties from their front gardens on 8th May too. After the Queen's address at 9pm, the country will be led in a rendition of, "We'll meet again," on BBC 1. The Prince of Wales will also read extracts from his grandfather, King George VI's, wartime diaries.
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