On Friday 8th May 2020, the nation celebrated the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. The celebrations were nationwide, and many people held social distancing tea parties, enjoying scones, jam and cream, and pots of tea! Many sat outside in their streets and front gardens to celebrate with their neighbours. Coronavirus and lockdown did not dampen celebrations, and in fact, the wartime spirit was invoked as people carried on with celebrations despite lockdown. They found ways to celebrate still!
At 10:50am, representatives of the House of Commons and the House of Lords laid wreaths in Westminster to mark the occasion. The night before, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had visited Westminster Abbey to mark the occasion. He lit a candle by the tomb of the unknown soldier.
At 11am, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall led the nation in 2 minutes silence to remember all those who lost their lives and suffered during the second world war. A gun salute from Edinburgh Castle signalled the start and end of the 2 minutes silence. The Prince also read some of his grandfather, King George VI’s, diary entries from the war. The Duchess also shared some of her father’s reflections from his wartime memoirs. The Duchess, patron of the Desert Rats association, spoke to two of it’s veterans about their wartime experiences.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Princess Royal, video called with the veterans who would have taken part in the Royal British Legion’s parade, that had to be cancelled due to coronavirus. The interview’s were featured on Facebook Live’s The Royal British Legion’s VE Day 75 Commemorations. The royals asked the veteran’s what they did in the war, what their experiences were.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a video call with the resident’s of the Royal British Legion’s May House, for veterans. The Cambridge’s asked the veteran’s what job they did in the war, and thanked them for the work they did. They also asked how they were doing during lockdown too,
At 9pm, the Queen gave a speech to the nation, at the same time as her father did on 8th May 1945. The Queen herself lived through the war, and was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service herself, towards the end of the war. She stood on the balcony with her family on VE day as the nation celebrated in front of them. It is so fitting that the Queen could lead us, I think, in this way, as she herself remembers the war. That is one of the amazing and extraordinary things about having the Queen as our monarch. She has lived through so much, and has so much to bring.
The Queen said:
“I speak to you today at the same hour as my father did, exactly 75 years ago. His message then was a salute to the men and women at home and abroad who had sacrificed so much in pursuit of what he rightly called a “great deliverance”.
The war had been a total war; it had affected everyone, and no one was immune from its impact. Whether it be the men and women called up to serve; families separated from each other; or people asked to take up new roles and skills to support the war effort, all had a part to play. At the start, the outlook seemed bleak, the end distant, the outcome uncertain. But we kept faith that the cause was right - and this belief, as my father noted in his broadcast, carried us through.
Never give up, never despair - that was the message of VE Day. I vividly remember the jubilant scenes my sister and I witnessed with our parents and Winston Churchill from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The sense of joy in the crowds who gathered outside and across the country was profound, though while we celebrated the victory in Europe, we knew there would be further sacrifice. It was not until August that fighting in the Far East ceased and the war finally ended.
Many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict. They fought so we could live in peace, at home and abroad. They died so we could live as free people in a world of free nations. They risked all so our families and neighborhoods could be safe. We should and will remember them.
As I now reflect on my father’s words and the joyous celebrations, which some of us experienced first-hand, I am thankful for the strength and courage that the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and all our allies displayed.
The wartime generation knew that the best way to honour those who did not come back from the war, was to ensure that it didn’t happen again. The greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all.
Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps. But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other. And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.
I send my warmest good wishes to you all.”
It is at times like these that we can look to the royal family as a figurehead, and a human embodiment of morale, and our unity as a nation. I think this is when they come into their own, and their full value is realised. God save the Queen!
Comments