Veterans Join Queen For VE Day Ceremony

The Queen has joined some 1,000 war veterans and their families to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, her Majesty laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in remembrance of the price paid by Britain to achieve victory in the Second World War.

Also in attendance were David Cameron and his wife Samantha, politicians, dignitaries and members of Britain's Armed Forces.

Addressing the congregation, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: "We gather again, 70 years on, thankful for victory over the greatest darkness of the 20th century, perhaps of all history.

"Our gratitude is not simply for victory-in-Europe, but also reconciliation-in-Europe that followed, neither obviously or automatically."

The Duke of York, Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Kent were also among the congregation, along with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Home Secretary Theresa May and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.

The Dean of Westminster Dr John Hall, who led the service, said: "On Victory Day 70 years ago, 25,000 people came to services of thanksgiving held throughout the day and evening here in Westminster Abbey. We today share the spirit of that day of rejoicing."

Following the service, the Queen was introduced to Second World Veterans including Eric Buckley, who served in the Royal Navy as an engineer aboard Motor Torpedo boats during the D-Day landings in Normandy.

The 89-year-old, from Leicestershire, said he was serving in the Netherlands on VE Day and celebrated by drinking rum.

"The Dutch people came to us with drink. It was a really good day," he said.

Sky's Constitutional Affairs Commentator Alastair Bruce said: "It was the most incredible deliverance for the UK to see the defeat of Hitler's Germany and for the generation which the Queen represents.

"This service at Westminster Abbey is a chance 70 years later to say 'thank you', to those who gave their lives and those who served in achieving that great deliverance."

At Horse Guards Parade, Charles and Camilla watched a fly-past by the Red Arrows and aircraft that helped Britain and her Allies win the war - Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.

Meanwhile a parade of bands, veterans and current servicemen and women made their way from Westminster Abbey along Whitehall, passed the balcony where Winston Churchill made a historic speech in front of vast crowds in 1945.

Other events to mark the anniversary have been taking place over the weekend, including a concert where Katherine Jenkins, Pixie Lott, Status Quo and couples from Strictly Come Dancing performed 1940s-inspired songs at London's Horse Guard Parade.

Thousands of members of the public turned out for The Party To Remember concert, as well as a host of Second World War veterans.

Hosted by DJ Chris Evans the party included readings by well-known actors such as Martin Shaw, Richard E Grant and Robert Lindsay, documenting personal accounts of the war.

Other countries have also held VE Day events. Russia, which lost more people in the war than any other country, is holding a Victory parade in Moscow's Red Square.

More than 580,000 members of the UK and Commonwealth forces lost their lives, along with 67,073 British civilians, during six years of conflict.