Summary

  • King Charles delivers speech honouring veterans at the VE Day concert at London's Horse Guards Parade

  • The concert features performances from Fleur East, The Darkness, and Freya Ridings and comes at the end of a day of remembrance and commemoration as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe

  • Following a two-minute silence across the UK, King Charles and the Prince of Wales laid wreaths at the grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey

  • Anniversary events took place across the country - from London to Shetland, Cardiff and Howden - including a special tea party at the National Memorial Arboretum

  • "I certainly don't consider myself a hero," the RAF's oldest surviving veteran tells the BBC

  • We've stopped regular updates, but you can watch a special VE Day concert on the stream on this page

'A giant conga': King Charles makes crowd laugh during VE Day speech

Live Reporting

Edited by Jamie Whitehead

  1. 'It's important to recognise these sacrifices'

    Gabriela Pomeroy
    Live reporter, outside Westminster Abbey

    In the sunshine opposite the Abbey, the crowds fell silent at midday, standing respectfully together.

    Before the silence began, Angela from Glasgow told me she took the day off work to attend.

    "It is important to recognise the sacrifices, it’s important to stand up for the troops," she says.

    Standing among the crowd, she says: "I’m proud to be British."

    Woman, middle aged, standing in crowd outside, looking directly at camera. Wearing a white cardigan.

  2. Winston Churchill victory speech echoes across Abbey

    A wide shot image of the inside of Westminster AbbeyPA Media

    After a performance of the White Cliffs of Dover, we're now hearing an extract of the historic speech Winston Churchill gave announcing VE Day:

    "Yesterday morning at 2:41 am at Headquarters, General Jodl, the representative of the German High Command, and Grand Admiral Doenitz, the designated head of the German State, signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German Land, sea, and air forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force, and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command."

    Watch the original below:

    The moment Churchill announced victory

  3. Queen pays tribute to veteran dad with special brooch

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent, reporting from Westminster Abbey

    Queen Camilla in white morning coat dress with matching white and black hat. On her left lapel is a brooch of the 12th LancersGetty Images

    Queen Camilla's brooch has a family connection.

    It's the brooch of the 12th Lancers, the regiment in which her father served during the Second World War.

  4. Dean of Westminster leads off VE Day 80 service

    Dean of Westminster reads from the order of service

    The King and Queen, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales, have now walked down the main aisle of Westminster Abbey to their seats.

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

  5. King and Prince William lay wreaths

    King Charles lays wreathPA Media

    King Charles begins by laying a wreath of poppies at Westminster Abbey in honour of those who died during World War Two.

    The Prince of Wales follows right behind him with his own wreath.

    Prince William lays wreathPA Media

  6. Thanksgiving service begins

    Members of the Royal Family and the clergy stand around the tomb of the unknown soldier after laying wreaths

    The thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey has now started. The service is to celebrate 80 years since the end of fighting in Europe, but also to commemorate those who fought to make it happen.

    There are 1,800 guests in attendance at today's service.

  7. Nation holds two-minute silence

    A two-minute silence is now being observed in the UK to mark 80 years since VE Day.

    A thanksgiving service will follow, which you can watch at the top of the page.

    Two-minute silence observed in Westminster Abbey

  8. King and Queen arrive at Westminster Abbey
    Breaking

    King and Queen arriveReuters

    We're just seeing images of the King and Queen arriving at Westminster Abbey for the thanksgiving service.

    The event is set to begin at 12:00 BST.

  9. Westminster Abbey fills up ahead of service

    Second World War veterans and guests attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster AbbeyPA Media

  10. Prince and Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent, reporting from Westminster Abbey

    Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive at Westminster AbbeyReuters

    Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, have arrived at the Abbey.

    Princess of Wales (L) speaks to members of the clergy as Prince of Wales stands ahead of him chatting to priests
    Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive at Westminster AbbeyReuters

  11. Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne arrive

    Duchess of Edinburgh in blue dress smiles as she greets clergy next to the Duke of Edinburgh in a suit

    We're now seeing pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arriving at Westminster Abbey for the Service.

    Right behind them are Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

  12. Just the royals left to arrive

    Ashitha Nagesh
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    Outside view of Westminster Abbey on a cloudy dayAshitha Nagesh/BBC

    The Abbey’s bells are ringing out ahead of the service starting in about 15 minutes.

    Most of the 1,800 or so guests have now inside, with just the Royal Family due to arrive.

  13. Abbey bells, helicopters overhead, but no cheering crowds to watch

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent, from Westminster Abbey

    The area in front of the Westminster Abbey is seeing a succession of expensive looking cars dropping off guests.

    There's also a knot of photographers at the doors of the Abbey, capturing the arrivals, and a big media encampment over the road.

    But there are no members of the public in the immediate vicinity. The police are at barriers with no one behind them. It will be because of security, but it means that such events happen in a strange emptiness.

    There are Abbey bells, helicopters overhead, but no cheering crowds to watch.

  14. Former PMs Cameron, Johnson and Truss arrive for service

    Among the politicians attending today's service, are several former PMs.

    David Cameron and his wife Sam arriveReuters
    JohnsonPA Media
    Liz TrussReuters

  15. MPs and peers walk to Westminster Abbey

    We've just had this image of MPs and peers making the short walk from Parliament to Westminster Abbey.

    Speaker Lindsay Hoyle can be seen towards the front of the procession, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer a little way behind.

    MPs and peers walk in procession from the Palace of Westminster in London to Westminster AbbeyPA Media

  16. How is VE Day being celebrated across the UK?

    National Piper Louise Marshall plays on portobello beach with a Union flag in front of him at dawnPA Media

    Scotland's National Piper Louise Marshall played a lament to the fallen on Portobello Beach at dawn to kick off the commemorations

    As we've been mentioning, events are being held across the nation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

    In Scotland, a convoy of Norwegian fishing boats is travelling to Shetland to commemorate the "Shetland Bus" operation that rescued many refugees during the war.

    Northern Ireland is marking VE Day with a series of events, including a tea dance at Belfast City Hall, and displaying a replica Spitfire throughout the day.

    In Wales, a poppy cascade made from 1,000 individual flowers has been knitted by the Steel Magnolias Women's Institute. The cascade is being displayed outside the veterans' hub in Connah's Quay.

    A cascade of red knitted poppies outside a veterans' hub cafe shop window.

    Knitted poppy cascade in Connah's Quay, Wales

  17. Starmer leads procession of MPs into Abbey

    Ashitha Nagesh
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    Keir Starmer in a balck suit arrives at Westminster Abbey, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in a purple morning coat walking behind herReuters

    We’ve just seen the procession of MPs, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, arriving at the Abbey.

    They are re-enacting the historic walk MPs did from Parliament on VE Day in 1945, after it was announced that fighting in Europe had come to an end.

    There’s a hush in Westminster now as we get closer to midday, when the service is starting.

    Keir Starmer followed by MPs as they walk along the side of Westminster Abbey before the serviceAshitha Nagesh/BBC

  18. 'Excited' Scouts prepare to play key role during VE Day service

    Gabriela Pomeroy
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    A teenage girl (L) with long brown hair wearing a green-shirt Scout uniform stands next to a teenage boy (R) wearing a matching uniform as they pose for pictures in front of a yellow stone wallGabriela Pomeroy/BBC

    Calla and Keinan wait to enter the Abbey

    In the long queue outside the Abbey, I met two young people who’ve been given a special job during the memorial service: handing out flowers to veterans during the proceedings.

    Calla, 13, and Keinan, 12, are part of a large group of Scouts invited to take part in the service.

    Their scout leader Gillian tells me they spent yesterday afternoon “rehearsing handing out red roses” inside the abbey.

    “The teenagers are very excited to be chosen,” she says. “They were nervous yesterday but today they are happier now that they’ve had a rehearsal.”

  19. The Spitfire at St Paul's

    Gem O'Reilly
    BBC London

    BBC reporter Gem O'Reilly (long brown hair, black coat with fur neck) holds a BBC-branded red mic while sitting in a Spitfire planeGem O'Reilly/BBC

    It’s been a hugely eventful week across London and I’ve been lucky enough to see it all, reporting across the city, learning what VE means to people in the capital.

    Today I am standing in front of the replica Spitfire outside St Paul’s Cathedral that was modelled by Terry Arlow. He runs Simply Spitfire, a company that makes replicas of the World War Two planes.

    This particular Spitfire is modelled from a veteran called Tony Cooper, who flew a 64 squadron during the war.

    This is one of many commemorations taking place today to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and a service will be held today at St Paul’s at 17:00 BST.

  20. Guests are starting to arrive at the Abbey

    Ashitha Nagesh
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    A line of people start to enter Westminster Abbey from the main entrance, a white security tent visible to the far left of the imageAshitha Nagesh/BBC

    Some of the 1,800 guests have started to arrive for today’s service, and are being shown into the Abbey.

    As you can see, the entrance is also lined with photographers and security officers.

    It’s a bit chilly, but the weather’s just started to improve, with clear skies and a bit of sunshine.