For the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day the Cenotaph will be draped in union flags and there will be a military procession and flypast as well as a new installation of about 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, it has been announced.
Four days of commemorations will begin on the bank holiday Monday of 5 May in tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the second world war.
Bank holiday street parties will be held across the country, including onboard HMS Belfast, which fired some of the opening shots on D-day in 1944. There will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace followed by a flypast including the Red Arrows.
The VE Day ceremonies will conclude with a concert at London’s Horse Guards Parade for more than 10,000 members of the public, featuring stars of stage and screen and military musicians telling the story of victory and the legacy of the war in Europe.
The Cenotaph will be a focal point for the anniversary and will be dressed in union flags for the duration of the commemorations.
The ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London on Tuesday 6 May, with nearly 30,000 of the original decorations used for the 2014 display, which commemorated the centenary of world war one, making up a new installation representing a “wound” at the heart of the tower. Landmarks across the UK will be lit in the evening.
On the evening of 7 May 1945, a newsflash announced that the following day would be Victory in Europe Day. On 8 May, 80 years to the day after victory was declared, the Parliament Choir will host an anniversary concert in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster.
A service of thanksgiving will also be held at Westminster Abbey and commemorations will conclude with the Horse Guards Parade concert.
More events are planned to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day on Friday 15 August. A service will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum. In partnership with the government, the Royal British Legion will lead the nation in honouring and remembering those who fought and died during the war in the Pacific theatre.
In partnership with Imperial War Museums, Letters to Loved Ones will encourage the public to delve into their family history to find letters sent by their relatives during the war. Arts Council England will work with arts organisations to join with their communities and creatively reflect on the anniversaries. The Royal British Legion will be making resources available for schools and local communities.
Announcing the commemorations, the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said: “The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day are important opportunities for communities to come together to pay tribute to all those who served in the second world war and to reflect on the values that they were fighting for.
“By taking part in these significant commemorations, people across society will be able to hear our veterans’ stories first-hand, to reflect and remember, and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and service are remembered for generations to come.”
