The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have kicked off celebrations for the 75th anniversary of VE Day by sharing a post dedicated to the Queen...
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have kicked off celebrations for the 75th anniversary of VE Day by sharing a post dedicated to the Queen.
Kate Middleton, 38, and Prince William's, 37, Instagram account @KensingtonRoyal posted a collection of photographs from the celebrations to mark the big day.
Amoung the images was one of Her Majesty - then Princess Elizabeth - aged 19, with the caption detailing how she worked as a mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Sharing a snap of celebrations in Trafalgar Square, the caption went on: 'When the guns fell silent on this day in 1945, Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret joined the jubilant crowds in central London — the future Queen attempted to stay anonymous during the celebrations by pulling her cap down over her eyes.'
Meanwhile the Queen's, 93, Instagram account paid tribute to her father's King George's historic speech, sharing a clip of the King saying: 'There is great comfort in the thought that the years of darkness and danger in which the children of our country have grown up are over and, please God, for ever.'
Kate Middleton, 38, and Prince William, 37, kicked off the 75th anniversary celebrations for VE Day by sharing a post dedicated to the work of the Queen, 93
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official Instagram page shared several snaps from the celebration, including this one of Trafalgar Square
Prince William and Kate's Instagram post shared four black-and-white images, including one of the then-future Queen beaming as she posed within a car during her work as a mechanic.
The Queen's role as a driver and mechanic during WWII helped shape a teenage princess Elizabeth into the country's longest reigning monarch.
The post, which was shared this morning on Instagram, detailed the Queen's work during the Second World War, explaining: 'Today marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day — 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
'On this day millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved ones, and to hope for the future.
Prince William and Kate's Instagram page paid tribute to the Queen's work as a mechanic during the Second World War in a caption
The @KensingtonRoyal account posted snaps of people celebrating the end of the war, paying tribute to the 'millions of people' who 'took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved ones, and to hope for the future'
In another photograph shared by Kate and William, children could be seen holding Union flags as they marked VE Day
'During the war Her Majesty The Queen - then Princess Elizabeth - joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she trained as a mechanic, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member.'
It finished: 'Members of The Royal Family, including The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will mark the day — keep an eye on our feed, and on @RoyalFamily for more later today.'
Meanwhile the Queen's Instagram page also shared a post to mark the celebrations.
It shared a clip of King George's iconic evening speech, captioning the video: '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.'
'On 8 May 1945, King George VI made a radio broadcast to the people of the Commonwealth to mark the end of war in Europe.
'This evening, The Queen will make a special address at 9pm, the exact time her father spoke 75 years ago.'
And Prince Charles and Camilla's Instagram page also shared a series of black-and-white images to mark the day and invoke the VE Day spirit.
The final story shared by the couple read: 'Thank you. Today, the Royal Family will help remember those who lost their lives and reflect on the events 75 years ago.'
The parades have been cancelled, but even in lockdown nothing can quell the nation’s spirit when it comes to celebrating today’s 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Although large-scale public events are unable to go ahead, tributes will be paid by politicians and members of the royal family, as well as through a host of other events.
A two-minute national silence will be observed at 11am to honour the memories of the British servicemen and women who gave their lives during the conflict.
The silence will be led by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and broadcast from a location in Scotland, where they are self-isolating.
Meanwhile the Queen's official page shared a clip of King George's VE day radio broadcast on the Royal Family Instagram account
Meanwhile Prince Charles and Camilla shared a similar series of images on the Clarence House Instagram stories, nodding to celebrations across the country (left) as well as millions of people, including children, taking to the streets to mark the day (right)
The couple nodded to The Firm's plans for the day as they shared their final image of the series, captioning the picture: 'Today, The Royal Family will help remember those who lost their lives and reflect on the events 75 years ago'
The Queen will address the nation to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day on an extraordinary day of virtual commemorations.
As part of the revised plans to mark the occasion, Her Majesty's words will be broadcast on May 8 on BBC One at 9pm.
That was the exact moment her father King George VI gave a radio address in 1945, broadcast from bomb-scarred Buckingham Palace, in which he asked the nation to join him in giving thanks 'for a great deliverance' as the war in Europe had ended.
The message will be recorded at Windsor Castle under the same conditions as the Queen's national broadcast earlier this year - with a lone cameraman in protective gear standing more than two metres away, a royal source said.
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