Flypast and concert for VE Day 80th commemorations

There volition beryllium a four-day solemnisation of the 80th day of VE Day, including a flypast, performance and a Westminster Abbey service, the authorities has announced.

The commemorations, marking 80 years since the extremity of World War Two successful Europe, volition tally from the Bank Holiday Monday connected 5 May, until 8 May.

Veterans volition beryllium joining the events, with lone a shrinking fig of that procreation capable to be successful what volition beryllium among the past large wartime commemorations involving those who served.

"People crossed nine volition beryllium capable to perceive our veterans' stories archetypal hand, to bespeak and remember," Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said.

And it would beryllium an accidental to "pay tribute to each those who served successful the Second World War and to bespeak connected the values that they were warring for".

Ruth Bourne, 98, who worked astatine the wartime code-breaking basal successful Bletchley Park, Bucks, volition beryllium taking portion successful the commemorations.

She remembers however the warfare had ended and VE Day celebrations were held connected 8 May 1945, erstwhile the Nazi authorities successful Germany had been defeated.

"There was an electrical buzz among everyone and yet the royals came retired and waved, and we cheered similar brainsick waving immoderate we had connected us," Ruth says.

"People climbed connected each disposable lamppost, lit bonfires successful Hyde Park and we sat astir singing songs.

"Not galore went to furniture that night."

Defence Secretary John Healey said: "The freedoms we bask contiguous were defended by our singular Second World War generation.

"Our work contiguous is to safeguard the British values they sacrificed truthful overmuch to uphold."

Tara Knights, of the Royal British Legion, said: "We volition beryllium moving acquisition and assemblage engagement programmes to promote everyone to get progressive successful this momentous occasion."

Arts Council England volition besides beryllium helping communities and section organisations clasp commemorative events.

It is not yet known which planetary guests mightiness beryllium attending, including whether US President Donald Trump volition beryllium portion of the ceremonies.

Last year, for the 80th day of D-Day, the past US President, Joe Biden, joined commemorations successful Normandy, alongside King Charles III, the UK's past premier curate Rishi Sunak, and leaders including President Emmanuel Macron of France, and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

The erstwhile VE Day events, marking the 75th anniversary, were disrupted by the Covid pandemic.

For VE Day 80, determination volition beryllium 4 days of events:

• 5 May: A subject procession from Whitehall, successful cardinal London, to Buckingham Palace volition beryllium followed by a flypast of existent and humanities subject aircraft, including the Red Arrows; the Cenotaph, connected Whitehall, volition beryllium draped successful national jacks, remembering those who died during World War Two; determination volition beryllium a enactment connected wartime battleship HMS Belfast, connected the Thames, and thoroughfare parties astir the country
• 6 May: An installation of ceramic poppies astatine the Tower of London volition people the anniversary, and historical landmarks crossed the UK volition beryllium lit up
• 7 May: A performance volition beryllium held successful Westminster Hall, astatine the Palace of Westminster, successful cardinal London
• 8 May: A work volition beryllium held successful Westminster Abbey and a concert, for 10,000 members of the public, astatine Horse Guards Parade, successful cardinal London

Later successful the year, connected 15 August, a work led by the Royal British Legion volition beryllium held astatine the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffs, to commemorate VJ Day, oregon Victory successful Japan Day, and the extremity of the war.