Additional plans unveiled for 75th Anniversary of VE Day this Friday
Today, the nation will unite to mark 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Government has now announced further plans for the day, building on a programme of activity and celebrations announced last week.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, will lead the nation in a two-minute silence from Scotland, broadcast across national television and radio stations at 11 am.
Yesterday the Prime Minister visited Westminster Abbey to pay his respects, and today from Downing Street he will be observing the two-minute silence and speaking with a Second World War veteran via a video call.
Later in the day, there will be a broadcast of The Prince of Wales reading extracts from King George VI’s diary, relating the experiences of his grandfather on VE Day in 1945. This will include the King’s relief that the war in Europe was over, the family’s iconic appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony, and having lunch with Sir Winston Churchill.
And in an uplifting aerial display, the Royal Air Force will provide breath-taking flypasts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s capitals. The Red Arrows will fly over London, and modern RAF Typhoon jets will appear overhead in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The British public is encouraged not to gather to watch any flypast but continue to follow public health guidelines on social distancing and enjoy the coverage from their homes and gardens. ### Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
Across the UK, people will be decorating their homes with bunting, researching their family history on Ancestry.co.uk, tuning into the national commemorations on television and radio, and throwing a 1940’s themed afternoon tea in the safety of their own homes.
Museums and libraries are among those organisations across the country who have also come up with creative and innovative ways for families to celebrate and learn more about the history of the day, including:
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
The full plans for the day are as follows: