King Charles delivers historic speech from VE Day 80 Concert: 'We will remember them'

hailed "the service and sacrifice" of the wartime generation in a historic speech on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Speaking at 9pm, the same time his grandfather King George VI addressed the nation 80 years earlier, Charles 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."

The 76-year-old monarch took to the stage to deliver a surprise live address to the nation , where he was joined by the Queen and

He was met with huge cheers and laughter was heard across the audience as he joked about not having the energy to celebrate until 2am or lead a conga line as his late mother Queen Elizabeth II did on VE Day in 1945. He exited the stage to Land of Hope and Glory as members of the audience sang along and waved Union flags.

He gave thanks to all those who served in the Second World War, saying: "That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them."

In his seven-minute speech, the King reflected on his visit to Normandy to commemorate the D-Day landings and his recent visit to Auschwitz in January to mark 80 years since its liberation - describing it as "the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was triumph of good over evil".

He continued: "All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores."

On a more personal note, the King spoke of the celebrations his late mother took part in 80 years ago, at the age of 19.

It marked the only time the future Queen ever went incognito among her subjects, joining the crowds in London with her sister Margaret, where she stayed out until 2am and joined a conga from Embankment all the way home.

"I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful," the King said. "Although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2 a.m., let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace!"

Laughter broke out among the 12,500 guests, many of whom were dressed in patriotic colours of red, white and blue.

The King reminded the public that the Allied Victory came as a result of "unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies", adding: "Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny."

He said it was important to ensure that the experiences of the wartime generation are never forgotten and called on the nation to rededicate ourselves to the causes of freedom and just peace.

Repeating the words of his late grandfather, he said: "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 goodwill."

Concluding his powerful message, the King said: "It falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy - so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: 'they too bequeathed a better world'."

The crowd erupted into rapturous applause and a standing ovation.

It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that 'the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes'. The liberation of Europe was secured.

His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.

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. Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front, - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day.

That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.

Over the course of the last year, there have been 80th anniversaries across Europe, from the hills of Monte Cassino to the Lower Rhine at Arnhem. Last June, I was profoundly moved to join veterans of D-Day at the new national memorial overlooking Gold Beach, as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home. In January, as the world marked the liberation of Auschwitz, I met survivors whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.

All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.

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 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!'

I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the

energy to sing until 2 a.m., let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham

Palace!

The Allied victory being celebrated then, as now, was a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity. Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.

But even as we rejoice again today, we must also remember those who were still fighting, still living with conflict and starvation on the other side of the world. For them, peace would not come until months later with V.J. Day - Victory in the Pacific - which my father witnessed at first-hand from the deck of his destroyer, H.M.S. Whelp.

In remembering the past, we must also look to the future. As the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles, the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward, to ensure their experiences are never to be forgotten. We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.

And as we reach the conclusion of the 80th Anniversary commemorations, we should remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'. In so doing, we should also 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.

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.'

Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy - so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: 'they too bequeathed a better world'.

The King's speech came 30 minutes into the VE Day party, presented by Zoe Ball, which saw performances from The Darkness, Sir Willard White, Fleur East and renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in May 2018.

Other highlights included a dazzling performance from Strictly Come Dancing professionals, a revival of Dad's Army, and appearances from Dame Mary Berry and actor Brian Cox delivered a powerful reenactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.

Horse Guards Parade, the site of the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony and events such as Trooping the Colour, was transformed into an impressive stage for the evening concert. Rows of seating surrounded the huge stage, with guests undeterred by the chilly temperature.

Stirring renditions of wartime classics such as The White Cliffs of Dover and We'll Meet Again were performed during the 90-minute showcase, alongside the stories of veterans from the Second World War.

The VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember was broadcast live on Thursday evening and marked the culmination of four days of events marking the anniversary.

Over the past few days, ceremonial events took place across the country, including a dramatic RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace on Bank Holiday Monday.

A military procession paraded down the Mall and senior royals hosted veterans for a tea party at Buckingham Palace, which saw 11-year-old Prince George make a surprise appearance.