King Charles echoes grandfather King George VI as he delivers historic VE Day speech

The has heralded the “service and sacrifice of the wartime generation” in a speech on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, echoing the words of his late grandfather,

In his own historic address to the nation, the monarch said “while our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone”. As war rages once more in Europe and the Middle East, Charles said it was our duty to “rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict.” Repeating the words of “our great wartime leader”, , he said: “Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war.”

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Reflecting on his own experiences this year, in January visiting the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz on the 80th anniversary of its liberation, Charles said it now falls to all of us to honour the freedoms our war heroes fought for, “to protect and continue their precious legacy”.

last week revealed Charles had penned his own tribute to the fallen and the bravery of the Second World War generation, which he delivered at 9pm tonight (Thursday, 8 May), on the same date and time as his King George VI’s historic address. Speaking to the nation from a bomb scarred on May 8, 1945, the then-King thanked the nation for their bravery and dedication to the war effort.

At the end of this week’s commemorations, Charles added: “For as my grandfather put it: ‘We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will'."

Charles was tonight joined by the Queen, the Prince and and other senior royals, who have led the country in commemorations throughout the week, including a special tea party at Buckingham Palace on Monday attended by the future king, . After watching live performances from British band The Darkness, with incredible choreography from stars and moving wartime speeches from Dames Jone Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock, the King found time for a lighter moment, reflecting on his late mother’s own experiences of VE Day.

As thousands crammed into the streets following Churchill’s announcement that the Nazi’s had been defeated, Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Princess Margaret escaped the confines of the palace to rejoice with the rest of the country - even doing the conga back home. Charles, 76, said: “The celebration that evening was marked by my own late mother who, just nineteen-years-old, described in her diary how she mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and ‘walked for miles’ among them.

“The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote: ‘Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am!’”

In a typical self deprecating tone, Charles implored the crowd of 10,000 gathered at the specially constructed venue on Horse Guards Parade in London to continue the celebrations, adding: “Although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2am, let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace!”

The King also reflected on his late father’s experiences of war, when “witnessed at first-hand” victory over Japan in August 1945, serving with the Royal Navy on board H.M.S. Whelp in the Pacific. Charles reminded the nation that “as the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles” it is our duty to remember their sacrifice.

He added: “We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week.”

Often considered a convener of races and religions, Charles reiterated the Allied victory was “a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity”. He added: “Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.”

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Raising huge cheers from the crowd, Charles issued a rallying cry for nations to once again come together to stamp out tyranny and war to safeguard the future of the next generation, saying: “so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: ‘they too bequeathed a better ’.”

Earlier in the day, the King attended a special Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London, leading the nation in honouring the sacrifices of those who brought peace to Europe 80 years ago. The sovereign poignantly placed a floral tribute at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, close to Westminster Abbey's west door, on behalf of the nation and Commonwealth.

A handwritten message from the King, recognising those who fought and died in the Second World War, read: "We will never forget." A national two-minute silence was observed at midday before the simple ceremony began. Among the congregation were veterans of the conflict who helped to defeat fascism on the continent during a war that lasted almost six years.

The Prince of Wales also laid a floral tribute, with both wreaths featuring flowers which would have been in bloom in May 1945, writing: "For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them."

Among the guests were the Queen, the Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the and Prime Minister Sir .

The Archbishop of York also warned the "good" resulting from the Second World War is "under threat". Stephen Cottrell paid tribute to "those whose sacrifice made our victory possible" against Hitler's Nazi regime, and said he is praying again for "peace in Europe" amid Russia's three-year invasion of .

The congregation also heard wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill's radio broadcast announcing the end of hostilities, which concluded with the words "long live the cause of freedom". Second World War artefacts, including a child's gas mask, sailor's cap and an air raid warden's helmet, representing the and the Home Front, were processed through the abbey. And the familiar wartime song, The White Cliffs Of Dover, was sung by Zizi Strallen.

Sir Winston Churchill's great-great-grandson, Alexander Churchill, aged 10, lit the VE Day 80th candle of peace. In a moving moment, six young members of the congregation handed out white roses, carried in wicker baskets, to Second World War veterans seated in the nave. Veterans were seen to nod and say "thank you" as they received the symbol of peace.