The friendship between formerly hostile countries is the best recognition for the people who died in World War II, according to Elizabeth II.
Windsor (dpa) - The British Queen Elizabeth II (94) commemorated the end of the Second World War on Friday evening with a speech distributed on television and on the Internet.
"Never give up, never despair," that was the message of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), said the Queen. On May 8, 1945, the Second World War in Europe ended with the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht.
"At the beginning the view seemed bleak, the end far away and the exit unclear," said the monarch. But the belief in doing the right thing carried people through the difficult times. The speech was broadcast at the same time as a radio speech by Elizabeth's father, King George VI, who addressed his nation at the end of the war.
"I vividly remember the cheering scenes my sister and I witnessed on the Buckingham Palace balcony with our parents and Winston Churchill (then Prime Minister)," continued the Queen. The two young women later mingled with the partying crowd in the streets of London, the Queen told the BBC once. At the time, however, she was also aware that the war would cause further casualties. It was not until August that arms surrendered in the Pacific after Japan surrendered.
The Queen recalled the many human lives that the "terrible conflict" had claimed. The best appreciation for the sacrifice they made was "that countries that were once bitter enemies are now friends, working side by side for all of us peace, health and prosperity," said the head of state.
The Queen retired to the Windsor Castle near London in the coronavirus pandemic with her husband, Prince Philip (98). Events and street festivals commemorating the end of the war were largely canceled. Nevertheless, the streets are not empty, said Elizabeth II, "they are filled with the" love and care we feel for each other. "It makes them proud to see what people are willing to do for others.
The queen wore a simple light blue dress when speaking. A photo of her father was placed on a desk in front of her. On the other side was the military cap she had worn as a young woman. The then Princess Elizabeth had trained as a truck driver and mechanic in a women's section of the British Army during the war. According to Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II is the only living head of state who served in World War II.
On Friday morning, several aircraft from the Red Arrows aerobatic team flew over the capital London and colored the sky with smoke trails in the colors of the Union Jacks red, blue and white. At 11 a.m. the dead were commemorated across the country with a minute's silence. Heir to the throne, Prince Charles, laid a wreath at a war memorial in Scotland, where he is currently residing.
The Queen's speech on Twitter