King Charles leads UK service to mark end of WWII
London, United Kingdom (AFP)-King Charles III on Thursday joined veterans and other members of the royal family at London’s Westminster Abbey for a service to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
Arriving at the abbey, Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, laid wreaths at the church’s tomb of the unknown warrior.
War-time prime minister Winston Churchill’s 10-year-old great-great-grandson, Alexander, was due to light a candle of peace during the service, which was preceded by a national two-minute silence.
“It feels really amazing that I can represent my family and also the younger generation to know and remember everyone involved in World War II,” the younger Churchill said.
Other younger members of the congregation will hand out white roses to veterans.
This year’s commemorations have had an extra poignancy due to the great age of the dwindling band of those still alive who served in the war.
Charles, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer, was also accompanied by Queen Camilla, William’s wife Princess Catherine, also known as Kate, and other senior members of the royal family.
The service was also attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other politicians and dignitaries.
Eighty years ago on May 8, 1945, central London was thronged with huge crowds celebrating the end of the war.
In a radio address to the nation Churchill announced that the day would be “Victory in Europe Day” and that “we may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing”.
Later that day the crowds even included the late Queen Elizabeth II, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret, who were allowed to leave Buckingham Palace and join the jubilant crowds incognito.
This year’s anniversary events will be the last major commemoration for which “anyone will still be alive who actually served in the Second World War,” monarchy specialist Robert Hazell of University College London told AFP earlier.
The four-day commemorations which began on Monday were to wrap up later Thursday with a concert at London’s Horse Guards Parade, with pubs allowed to stay open two hours later than usual.
