The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, joined King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Victory in Europe (VE) Day marked the formal end of the Second World War in Europe in May 1945. The other members of the British Royal Family were also present at the special ceremony – The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent.
Many Veterans, The Prime Minister, members of the government, authorities were present at the service. The special appearance was from the great-great-grandson, Alexander Churchill (10 Years old), of the war time British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. He lit the Candle of Peace and lead a prayer for “peace across the world and Europe”. The service was led by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle.
The British Royal Family joined the nation for the two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance at the beginning of the service. King Charles III laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, followed by The Prince of Wales. The Wales’s wreath had a handwritten message on it from both William and Kate, “For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War, we will remember them.”
From People’s report, “The service began moments after 12 p.m. local time, when the chimes of Big Ben, nearby, sounded. The royal family joined the 1,800-strong congregation in a national two-minute silence to reflect on and remember the sacrifices and heroism of the armed forces and the stoicism of ordinary people during the war. During the solemn moments, Princess Kate, 43, and Queen Camilla, 77, stood alongside the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, while King Charles, 76, and Prince William, 42, stood at its head, a few paces away. “
There were many special readings from the members of the congregations i.e. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, read from Matthew 5. An extract of Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech was played to the congregation. This week various events has been held across the nation to remember the sacrifices and the celebrations with two major commemorative events in central London i.e. A special Military procession on Monday which was attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton along with their children and today’s service.
At the end of the service, The King and Queen, Prince William and Kate Middleton accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, met veterans in the Abbey’s nave. On departure, The Queen, The Princess of Wales and other Members of the Royal Family laid flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial, which stands as a tribute to all victims of war and oppression. The flowers were picked from the gardens of Windsor Castle and other surrounding estates.
As the service ended, the bells of the Abbey church were ‘fired’ eighty times. On May 8, 1945 the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace.
Both Queen Camilla and Princess Kate Middleton chose to wear monochrome ensembles for the day. While Princess Kate chose to repeat her Alessandra Rich black and white high-necked polka-dot dress from 2023 Order of Garter Service, Queen Camilla chose a bespoke white crepe silk dress and coat with black stitching designed by Anna Valentine.
What Kate Middleton wore for the VE Day Service of Thanksgiving
- Alessandra Rich Black and White Polka Dot Dress – Repeat from 2023 Order of Garter Service
- Juliette Botterill Black hat – Repeat from 2024 Remembrance Day service
- Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings
- DeMillier London The Montreal Nano Bag – Repeat from May 2021 launch of Hold Still
- Ralph Lauren Celia Calfskin Pumps – Repeat September 2020