Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) 8th May 2025
At 3pm on 8th May 1945 Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill declared on a national radio broadcast that all German Forces had surrendered. It marked the end of almost six years of war in Europe in which 384,000 British soldiers and 70,000 civilians were killed.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth along with their daughter Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, waved to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, they made eight appearances waving to the crowds. One of which they were joined by Sir Winston Churchill.
Later, the future monarch, Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret had been allowed to leave the Palace and take part, anonymously, in the party like atmosphere outside the palace. Princess Elizabeth later recalled ‘We stood outside and shouted, “We want the King”, I think it was one of the most memorable nights in my life.
King George VI, like Churchill, also made a radio broadcast he praised his subjects’ endurance and called for a lasting peace. He paid tribute to those who could not join in the celebrations saying, “Let us remember those who will not come back…let us remember the men in all the services, who have laid down their lives. We have come to the end of our tribulation, and they are not with us at the moment of our rejoicing”
This year will be VE Day’s 80th year.