Her Majesty The Queen.
Source: royal.gov.uk
Buckingham Palace last week confirmed that Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family would attend a service of thanksgiving to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day) on 10 May 2015. People across the UK are also marking this milestone by attending or organising their own events as the nation comes together to celebrate.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and other Members of the Royal Family, will attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
The announcement from the Palace comes as more details of how people are celebrating VE Day 70 are revealed. Communities are being encouraged to organise or take part in celebrations that will celebrate the extraordinary generation who played such an important role in defending our country.
There are many ways people can get involved, from attending or hosting a street party or picnic, to watching a special V-shaped beacon being lit in their community, or listening out for the bells ringing in their local cathedral or church. The public are being invited to share their plans on the newly launched VE Day 70 events map: www.defencehq.tumblr.com/post/115284856685/veday70-event-map.
Veterans of the Second World War are being encouraged to take a leading role in the national commemorations. Last week The Royal British Legion invited veterans to join the national commemorations in London and funding for travel has been made available for veterans and their carers.
Barbara Weatherill, 89, from Selby, North Yorkshire, was serving in Sunderland in the Army in 1945.
“I’d heard the news about the war being over but couldn’t celebrate as I had to transport rations to another Army base,” she said. “The journey took twice as long, as the streets were filled with people celebrating and having a great time. It will be fantastic to see some of that joy again in the celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary.”