A great-grandmother who partied outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day says people will "never understand" what the day was like. Margaret Johns, 99, was working as a nurse in London when Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, ending almost six years of conflict in Europe, on 8 May 1945.

The words of Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, spoken by actor Timothy Spall, began the commemorations, which featured a display by the Red Arrows during a flypast by 23 current and historic military aircraft , appearances by senior royals and street parties across the UK.

The Royal Family turned out in force to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London today as Britain remembered the end of the Second World War in Europe. King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince William,