Street parties are also set to be held across the country and a 10,000-strong concert as the nation comes together to honour the heroes of the Second World War.
The Cenotaph will be draped in Union flags and the famous Red Arrows will fly over central London to mark 80 years since VE Day.
Street parties are also set to be held across the country and a 10,000-strong concert as the nation comes together to honour the heroes of the Second World War.
Under government plans unveiled today, four days of commemorations will take place between the bank holiday on Monday 5 May until Thursday 8 May.
It could be one of the final chances to honour the generation who fought in the war. The conflict between 1939 and 1945 claimed tens of millions of lives globally and it is estimated that around 70,000 of British veterans are still alive today.
Late last year No10 ruled out the prospect of an extra bank holiday – but Keir Starmer promised Mirror readers events will offer a moment to “do that generation proud”.
It will begin on May 5 with the Cenotaph memorial dressed in Union flags – providing a place to pay silent tribute to all those who died both at home and abroad. On the same day there will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace with a flypast of historic war planes and the Red Arrows. The Mirror has previously revealed the King and other senior members of the royal family are expected to join Mr Starmer in leading a series of events.
It could see a repeat of the 50th anniversary of VE day – almost 30 years ago – as hundreds of thousands gathered to witness the Red Arrows flypast on The Mall. At the time the late Queen Elizabeth and her mother appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony to witness the spectacle.
The government said street parties and barbecues can also be held to echo the celebrations 80 years ago as the country welcomed the end of WW2 in Europe.
Ruth Bourne, 98, who worked as a link in the chain of codebreakers intercepting Nazi messages at Bletchley Park in WW2, said: “There was an electric buzz among everyone and eventually the Royals came out and waved, and we cheered like crazy waving whatever we had on us. People climbed on every available lamppost, lit bonfires in Hyde Park and we sat around singing songs. Not many went to bed that night!”
On the following day – Tuesday 6 May – an installation of ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London while historic landmarks across the country will be lit up. Over a decade ago the moat of the was filled with thousands of poppies as part of an art installation to mark 100 years since the end of World War One.
To mark 80 years since the moment a BBC radio newsflash interrupted its schedule on 7 May 1945 to broadcast news of the end of the war in Europe, the Parliament Choir will host a VE Day concert in the historic Westminster Hall.
On Thursday 9 May, events will conclude with a special Westminster Abbey service where King Charles and other royals are expected to pay tribute to the fallen. There will then be a concert at Horseguards Parade, with around 10,000 members of the public expected to be invited, the government added.
Separate events will also take place on Friday 15 August to mark VJ Day – when Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s surrender to the allied forces.
Working with the Imperial War Museum, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also encourage the public to look into their family history. It is hoped under the project – Letters to Loved Ones – people will be able to find letters sent by soldiers on the WW2 frontline to their relatives and rediscover testimonies.
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.”
John Healey, the Defence Secretary, added: “80 years ago, the freedoms we enjoy today were defended by our remarkable Second World War generation. Our duty today is to safeguard the British values they sacrificed so much to uphold. As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, our grateful nation looks forward to joining our brave Armed Forces and veterans to reflect, rejoice and remember.”
