British Queen attends service of thanksgiving of VE Day at Westminster Abbey

Xinhua

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British Queen Elizabeth II and royal family members attended a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey Sunday morning, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day.

The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and Prime Minister David Cameron took part in the service on Sunday morning. About 1, 000 veterans and their families, and representative of the Allied Nations and Commonwealth countries with Britain during the wartime also attended the service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said the veterans had ensured "victory over the greatest darkness of the 20th Century".

Britain has held various kinds of commemorations on Friday and Saturday, including a two-minute silence, illumination of iconic London buildings, as well as a star-studded concert.

After the Service of Thanksgiving, a parade of over 2,000 Service personnel, veterans and their guests will march from Westminster Abbey to Horse Guards Parade.

They will pass the balcony in Whitehall where the great British hero, wartime prime minister Churchill appeared before the crowds on VE Day after his famous speech to mark Victory in Europe 70 years ago.

Red Arrows and WWII aircraft will make a flypast over central London later on Sunday afternoon. Enditem