Candles, wreaths, famous faces: VE Day at 80 in pictures

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King Charles lays a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.Image source, PA Media

Events are taking place across the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.

The King and Queen, as well as the prime minister and other senior royals, attended a service of thanksgiving and remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

(left to right, front row) King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and the Princess of Wales and (left to right, back row) the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Image source, Julian Simmonds/The Telegraph/PA Media
King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Aaron Chown/PA Media
A general view of the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025. PA Photo. Image source, Aaron Chown/PA Media

The service was preceded by a two-minute national silence to remember those who served in World War Two.

King Charles and the Prince of Wales laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier.

The Prince of Wales and King Charles attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS
King Charles lays a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS
A handwritten note is pictured on the wreath which will be laid by King Charles IIIImage source, Jordan Pettitt/POOL/AFP
The Prince of Wales lays a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025.Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS
Wreaths laid by King Charles on behalf of the Nation and the Commonwealth, and the Prince of Wales and on behalf of Veterans and the Second World War generation, at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior are pictured, during a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS
The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, the dean of Westminster, led the service with a tribute to those "who have died the death of honour".

Alexander Churchill, the 10-year-old great-great-grandson of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill lit a Candle of Peace, whilst young members of the congregation handed out flowers to veterans.

Artefacts from the Second World War were processed through Westminster Abbey by members of the Armed Services.

Alexander Churchill, 10, lights the VE Day 80th Candle of Peace during a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025.Image source, Aaron Chown/PA Media
Artefacts from the Second World War are processed through Westminster Abbey in London during the Service of Thanksgiving on the 80th anniversary of VE DayImage source, Aaron Chown/PA Media
Zizi Strallen sings during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS
The Prince of Wales speaks with Second World War veterans and guest following a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VEImage source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media
King Charles III and Queen Camilla speak with Second World War veterans and guest following a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave Westminster Abbey after attending the Service of Thanksgiving as part of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, in London, Britain, May 8, 2025. Image source, Phil Noble/REUTERS

The Princess of Wales placed flowers at the Innocent Victims' Memorial, following a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

Britain's William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, leave Westminster Abbey after attending the Service of Thanksgiving as part of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, in London, Britain, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Phil NobleImage source, Phil Noble/REUTERS
The Prince of Wales and Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle (right) look on as the Princess of Wales lays flowers at the Innocent Victims' Memorial, following a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Aaron Chown/PA media

MPs and peers walked in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, re-enacting the historic walk MPs did from Parliament on VE Day in 1945.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was towards the front of the procession, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, a little way behind.

Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle (right) walks in procession with MPs and peers from the Palace of Westminster in London to Westminster Abbey for a Service of Thanksgiving on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Media
MPs and peers walk in procession from the Palace of Westminster in London to Westminster Abbey for a Service of Thanksgiving on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.Image source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Media
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, followed by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, arrive to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Thursday May 8, 2025.Image source, Jonathan Brady/PA Media

Some 1,800 guests attended the service including many veterans.

A view of the Sir Winston Churchill memorial plaque on the floor of Westminster Abbey in London, ahead of a Service of Thanksgiving on the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool/Getty Images
Second World War veterans and guests attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media
A Second World War veteran attends a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media
Veteran Ken Hay arrives for a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/Pool/Getty Images
A Second World War veteran, 100-year-old veteran Dorothea Barron, attends a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media

Among the politicians attending today's service, were several former PMs, including Lord David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Sir John Major.

Samantha Cameron and former British Prime Minister Lord David Cameron attend the thanksgiving service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey on May 08, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
Former Conservative Party prime minister Lord David Cameron (second left) and wife Samantha (left) are seen with former prime minister Rishi Sunak (fifth right) with his wife Akshata Murty (fourth right) and former prime minister Boris Johnson (right), attending a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London Image source, Julian Simmonds/The Telegraph/PA Media
Former Conservative Party prime ministers Boris Johnson and Lord David Cameron attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Media
Former Prime Minister, Sir John Major and Norma Major attend the thanksgiving service to mark The 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey on May 08, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Members of the public observed the two-minute national silence.

A police officer (R) stands with members of the public as they observe the two-minute silence near Parliament Square on May 08, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Leon Neal/Getty Images
Station staff and members of the public observe a two minute silence in Central Station to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 08, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. Image source, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
People stand outside the Bank of England as they observe a two minute silence to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025 in London, England. Image source, Carl Court/Getty Images

Earlier, Scotland's National Piper, Louise Marshall, played a lament at dawn to the fallen on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.

Scotland's National Piper Louise Marshall playing a lament to the fallen at dawn on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, overlooking the Firth of Forth on the 80th anniversary of VE DayImage source, Jane Barlow/PA Media

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