VE Day LIVE: Queens says WW2 heroes would be proud of UK today in heartfelt tribute – Express

As she remembered Britain's Second World War sacrifices and the "joyous celebrations" that followed the end of fighting in Europe, the head of state paid tribute to the positive qualities of today's generation.

She said the tireless efforts of NHS staff, care and key workers, and communities helping the vulnerable, reflected a nation "those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire".

And she highlighted the message of VE Day that resonates with the country's plight today - "Never give up, never despair".

Her televised address came at the end of national celebrations, curtailed due to the lockdown, marking 75 years to the day Britain and its Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender, following almost six years of brutal warfare.

Speaking from Windsor Castle's white drawing room, the Queen said in her pre-recorded message: "The wartime generation knew that the best way to honour those who did not come back from the war, was to ensure that it didn't happen again.

"The greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all.

"Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps.

"But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.

"And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire."

7pm update: Last Post played across UK

Trumpeters and buglers up and down the country have played The Last Post to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

The piece is often played at military memorials, and was taken up by dozens of musicians across the UK to mark the day that commemorates the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Among those involved was Paul Cartwright, from Ryhill near Wakefield, who plays with the West Yorkshire Police Band, which plays in Ypres every year on November 11.

The 48-year-old Church of England priest told the PA news agency: "It was to be able to honour those who gave their life for us, and also to honour those who are working so hard for us now in the armed forces, to help with all the Nightingale hospitals and all the logistics.

"It was to get the community involved and to give a bit of thanks for the peace that was brought on VE Day."

4.30pm update: Trump lays wreath at Washington war memorial

US President Donald Trump has laid a wreath at the World War Two Memorial in Washington as America marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

3.35pm update: Putin sends VE Day messages to Johnson and Trump

Vladimir Putin has sent telegrams to Boris Johnson and Donald Trump suggesting the need to rekindle their nations' co-operation during World War Two to solve today's problems.

The telegrams were among many Mr Putin dispatched to the Soviet Union's World War Two allies on the 75th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Europe.

Ties with London remain badly strained over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury two years ago.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to his British counterpart Dominic Raab earlier this week when, according to Moscow, they agreed to try to improve cooperation.

2.58pm update: Sophie jokes with WW3 veteran about VE day hangover

The Countess of Wessex joked with a Second World War airman about his hangover after VE Day celebrations when they met for a virtual chat.

Members of the royal family have been talking with wartime veterans and civilians this week to hear their stories and mark the 75th anniversary of the war ending in Europe.

Louis Goodwin, 94, from Salisbury, told the countess he joined the RAF in 1943 as an 18-year-old and opted to train as a gunner rather than pilot/navigator as the instruction course was shorter.

Speaking on the Royal British Legion's special online show, screened on its Facebook page, the former airman told the royal he left the VE Day party at 11pm, she said "quite civilised - not too bad" and he replied with understatement and a laugh: "We had a few drinks".

"You remember the headache the next morning?" asked Sophie, and Mr Goodwin replied "Yes, yes and wondering what we were going to do next."

2.22pm update: Skytyping tribute to frontline workers

The UK's first skytyping display has been conducted to mark VE Day and pay tribute to frontline workers.

Messages such as We Will Meet Again and Thank You were etched in the sky above Henstridge airfield in Somerset.

The display was commissioned by the Department for Transport, which recently introduced a law change to allow skytyping and skywriting to take place.

The techniques were made illegal in the UK in the 1960s over safety concerns, but are used in many countries such as the US, Australia, France and Spain.

Skywriting was inadvertently discovered by an RAF pilot during the First World War, when oil accidentally entered a plane's exhaust, creating dense, white smoke.

2pm update:Should delayed 75th anniversary celebration be held after lockdown ends?

Many VE Day celebrations scheduled to take place across the country have been called off due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Do you think memorial events marking the 75th anniversary should be held at a later date to honour the war heroes? Vote in our Express.co.uk pollhere.

1.25pm update: PM to speak to world leaders for VE Day

Boris Johnson will speak with a number of world leaders to remember the events of VE Day 75 years ago.

He has already spoken to Russian president Vladimir Putin to "mark the partnership of British and Russian forces during the war".

The Prime Minister is due to speak with German chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

1.15pm update: Macron and Merkel hold wreath-laying ceremonies

French President Emmanuel Macron held the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier laid wreaths at Berlin's Memorial to the Victims of War and Dictatorship.

12.30pm update: WW2 veteran shares emotional memories of VE Day

A Second World War veteran has recalled the jubilant scenes at his air force base as Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the end of fighting following the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Flight Sergeant Eric Edis said: Someone shouted out the war is over!

I can remember Winston, dear Winston on the radio. They loved him.

I remember him thanking all the forces and everyone who had participated and helped us win the war.

It was not just the army and navy and air force, it was the civilians who helped as well and the firefighters and hospital staff. They were all part of winning the war. There was great joy.

11.15am update: UK falls silent in remembrance on VE Day anniversary

The UK fell silent at 11am to remember those who served in the Second World War.

The poignant moment was led by Prince Charles and Camilla, who each laid a wreath at a memorial near Balmoral.

10.45am update:PM pays tribute to wartime generation

In a video shared on social media, Boris Johnson said: Seventy-five years ago the people of this country celebrated victory against Hitlers aggression.

In cities scarred by enemy bombing the crowds gave thanks for a national exertion greater than anything else before or since.

What our country and our allies did was to save freedom not just here but everywhere.

The Prime Minister continued: We are now engaged in a new struggle against the coronavirus which demands the same spirit of national endeavour.

And that means we cant hold the parades and street celebrations we enjoyed in the past.

But all of us who were born since 1945 are acutely conscious that we owe everything we most value to the generation who won the Second World War.

Today we celebrate their achievement, we remember their sacrifice and we take pride in being their compatriots.

We are a free people because of everything they did and our gratitude will be eternal.

10.15am update: Red Arrows fly over London for VE Day

The RAF has staged a flypast with the Red Arrows soaring through the sky over London.

Typhoon fighter jets also crossed over Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

10.05am update: Sir Keir Starmer releases VE Day video message

The Labour leader said: Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day and we remember the millions of people from across the UK and from across the world who came together in World War Two to fight for our shared values - values of freedom, of democracy, of peace and of tolerance.

We also pay tribute to those that rebuilt and renewed our country after the war.

Based on their values they built a better future.

9.50am update: Should VE Day always be a Bank Holiday?

VE Day is a Bank Holiday this year because the early May Day Bank Holiday, which is traditionally held on the first Monday of the month, has been moved back four days - but should it always be a public holiday?

Express.co.uk readers can vote in our poll on whether VE Day should always be a Bank Holiday.

The May Day Bank Holiday was last moved to May 8 in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day.

9.20am update: VE Day a very special day Captain Tom Moore

Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore, who has raised more than 32 million for the NHS, told Good Morning Britain: "It's a very special day that is celebrating the end of a very fearsome war in Europe.

"But today it really is a very fine day, the sun is shining on us too, so I think we all need to be very happy that the war in Europe did come to an end.

"It was a very important day and everyone concerned was absolutely very pleased that this was the end... the bombing of London, the bombing of other cities... had come to an end.

"It was a very, very happy day."

9am update: Queen shares clip of King George VIs radio address

The Queen has shared a video on the Royal Familys social media of her father King George VIs radio address on May 8 1945.

The caption said: Today is the 75th anniversary of VE Day: the day when people across the Commonwealth marked the end of war in Europe with a mixture of jubilation and quiet reflection on the many sacrifices which had been made for peace.

8.30am update: GCHQ reveals last message from German Second World War network

The last recorded message to be intercepted from a German military communications network at the end of the Second World War has been revealed.

It shows that Britain's Bletchley Park code breakers carried on working in the dying days of the war to ensure there would be no final stand by the Nazis, according to GCHQ historian Tony Comer.

With the Allies closing in and the network having retreated to the German town of Cuxhaven, a messenger who is identified only as Lieutenant Kunkel sent out a statement.

The intercepted message, which was sent as he signed off on 7 May 1945 at 7.35am, said: "British troops entered Cuxhaven at 1400 on 6 May - from now on all radio traffic will cease - wishing you all the best. Lt Kunkel".

This was immediately followed by: "Closing down for ever - all the best - goodbye".

Bletchley Park code breakers were collecting communications from the German Brown network.

8.05am update: Prince William and Kate mark VE Day

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a picture on social media of VE Day celebrations.

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VE Day LIVE: Queens says WW2 heroes would be proud of UK today in heartfelt tribute - Express