Britain launches VE Day celebrations in the shadow of the war in Ukraine [Video]

Britain began four days of VE Day celebrations Monday with a military parade through central London, a flypast over Buckingham Palace and street parties throughout the country.

The commemorations mark the 80th anniversary of Germany’s surrender to Allied forces on May 7, 1945, in Reims, France. The following day was declared Victory in Europe Day across much of the continent.

Monday’s ceremony began with actor Timothy Spall reading excerpts from a radio address Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave at 3 p.m. on VE Day to announce the German surrender.

“My dear friends, this is your hour,” read Mr. Spall, who played Mr. Churchill in the film The King’s Speech. “This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the Great British nation as a whole. We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny.”