UK queen's message marks muted VE Day celebration

Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second used her VE Day message to pay tribute to both the war-time generation, for their "strength and courage" on the battlefields and at home, and today's generation, for what they are "willing to do to protect and support one another" during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the televised message, recorded at Windsor Castle, the queen acknowledged that the lockdown measures imposed because of the virus meant that Friday's 75th anniversary of VE Day had been muted and low key.

"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," she said.

But she went on to say that even though the streets were empty, they had been "filled with the love and the care that we have for each other".

"And when I look at our country today... I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire," the queen concluded.

The message was broadcast at 2100 local time (2000GMT), the same time her father, King George VI, addressed the nation via radio in 1945 to announce the end of hostilities on the European continent.

The queen was seated at her desk, wearing a pale blue dress, adorned with two brooches that were given to her by her father for her 18th birthday in April 1944.

Placed on the desk was her Auxiliary Territorial Service peaked cap that she wore when she undertook National Service in February 1945.