Winston Churchill’s descendant issues call to ‘pray for peace’

The members of royalty, politicians and veterans have gathered in Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe, in what could be the last important day in the veterans of World War II.

When the clock hit at noon, they joined the crowd of around 1,800 to defend a two -minute silence that was observed throughout the United Kingdom.

King Carlos and the Prince of Wales went to handwritten notes that said “we will never forget” and “we will remember them” in the tomb of the unknown warrior.

They are planned that the events of events honored the latest generation of war veterans and urge peace in the present, with Winston Churchill’s great -grandson issuing a call to “pray for peace in Europe.”

Before service, parliamentarians and peers recreated a historical walk from Parliament to the abbey that had the place of tasks when victory in Europe declared in 1945.

After the placement of crowns and a welcome, an extract or the speech of Winston Churchill announcing the unconditional surrender of Germany through the abbey.

The great -term great -gain, Alexander Churchill, 10, lit a candle for peace and invited people to “pray for peace in Europe and worldwide.”

The children gave to white roses veterans, while the members of the service carried conflict artifacts, including a child’s gas mask.

A singer interpreted Dover’s white cliffs, written the duration of the war, among other songs.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a reading of the Bible, while others read memories and redicts to peace.

In a message for the crowd, York Archbishop Stephen Cottrell thanked those who “whose victory made our victory possible.”

“All this is well threatened in our world today,” he said. “Then, on this 80th anniversary, with some of the veterans who fought for those freedoms with us here, they commit to being those who, in the words of Jesus, make peace.”

After the service, Royals greeted and talked with the two veterans of World War II, some of which were in wheelchairs and decorated with medals.

Among the guests was Harry Winter, a 103 -year -old RAF veteran.

He told the BBC that he was shot down by Germany in January 1945 and hero as a war prisoner until the day five months later. While he was in captivity, he had 150 miles in 17 days without food, pushing cattle trucks at temperatures of -30c, he said.

On May 8, 1945, he was with American trucks and left Germany.

“I simply felt: ‘I’m free! I can do what I like again! I can go with anyone who tries to stop,” he said.

After the service, the members of the royal family walked to place branches in the monument of the innocent victims, which commemorates all who suffered death, torture and exit through the world, outside the abbey.

The flowers were collected on Wednesday on the land of the Windsor Castle and the surrounding property, and included Rosemary that represents the memory, the oak for longevity and resistance, and the gratitude bells.

The Westminster Abbey bells then planned 80 times to remember the years from day one.

At 18:30, the churches and the cathedrals throughout the country will sound their bells, which the Church of England says that they will echo the sounds that extended throughout the country in 1945.

A mass concert is planned by 20:00 of the horsepower in London, with 10,000 people who are expected to attend.

The celebrations are likely to continue until late at night, with pubs and bars that are given permission to remain open for two additional hours.

Previously, in Scotland, the Piper Nacional played a lament at dawn for the fallen in Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, and a convoy of Norwegian fishing boats travels to Shetland to commemorate the operation of the “Shetland bus” that rescued many refugees.

Ireland of the North is marking the day with a series of events, which include a tea dance at the Belfast City Council.

In Wales, the church services observed crowns of silence and lid, and a cascade of point poppy of 1,000 individual flowers was exhibited outside the veteran center on the Connah dock.

In the afternoon, the Royal British Legion organized a tea party with veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, England.

The Westminster Abbey service brought together veterans of different generations.

Jason Webb, a veteran of the Royal Navy who served in Afghanistan, carried his medals and those of his two grandparents that served in World War II.

“I felt the service very emotional,” he said.

Outside the abbey, the crowds of citizens gathered to show their respect, including Angela de Glasgow, who took the day off to attend.

“It is important to recognize the sacrifices, it is important to defend the troops,” he said.

Standing between the crowd, he added: “I am proud to be British.”

VE Day’s 80th anniversary celebrations began on Monday with a military procession and red arrow arrows, with thousands that align the shopping center near Buckingham Palace to see.

There was also an exhibition of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies in the Tower of London.

Additional reports of Sean Coughlin, Ashitha Nesh and Gabriela Pomeroy