THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a throwback photo of the Queen during the Second World War ahead of her VE Day address to the nation.
The photo, released via Will and Kate’s official Instagram account, shows Her Majesty in her military uniform during her role as a mechanic in the auxiliary service.
Alongside the post, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote: “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.”
ROYAL CELEBRATION
They added: “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.
“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.
“On #VEDay75 Members of The Royal Family, including The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will mark the day — keep an eye on our feed, and on @TheRoyalFamily for more later today.”
The selection of pictures shows Brits taking to the streets to celebrate the end of the War in 1945, with kids waving the Union Jack outside and Londoners gathering in Trafalgar Square.
Today, the 75th anniversary for VE Day will be marked in a different way, as all public celebrations for the 75th anniversary were cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.
75TH ANNIVERSARY
The Queen will still mark the occasion with a special pre-recorded address at 9pm tonight – the exact time her father, King George VI gave a radio address on May 8 1945.
It will be followed by a nationwide singalong to Vera Lynn and indoor WWII-themed street parties.
Prince Charles is also expected to read an extract from King George VI’s diary penned on VE Day while the Prime Minister will join royals to make surprise video calls to veterans who have been denied a heroes’ procession through London due to the lockdown.
The official commemorations will begin at 11am with a national moment of remembrance and a two minute silence.
As part of a day-long BBC VE Day special, extracts from Sir Winston Churchill’s victory speech will recreate the moment peace in Europe was announced at 3pm.
It comes after the Queen evoked the wartime spirit in her coronavirus address on April 4 when she echoed the wartime song vowing to families split by the lockdown that “we will meet again”.
Households, who have led incredible Clap for Carers across the nation every Thursday, are urged to open their doors and join in with a “national moment of celebration”.
