Duchess of Edinburgh marks VE Day Thanksgiving Service with Royal Family

WATCH HERE: Cameron Walker on the VE Day Thanksgiving Service

GB News
Marcus Donaldson

By Marcus Donaldson


Published: 08/05/2025

- 12:07

Updated: 08/05/2025

- 12:53

Sophie has close ties to Britain's armed forces through her husband

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was present at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to commemorate VE Day.

The 60-year-old royal, wife of Prince Edward, observed flowers being laid at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.


Sophie and Prince Edward joined The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent at the ceremony.

They gathered with commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, on May 8, 1945, when allied powers formally accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived Westminster Abbey to commemorate VE Day.

Getty

The Royal Family joined the Westminster Abbey congregation for a two-minute silence of remembrance observed across the country.

King Charles and the Prince of Wales will also lay flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at the ceremony.

The Duchess of Edinburgh will also witness a reflective reading by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Veterans of Britain’s most destructive conflict will also be present at Westminster Abbey.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie joined other royals at the Thanksgiving Service

PA

Before departing, Queen Camilla will lead the Royal Family in laying flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial, outside the Abbey’s West Door.

Sophie is closely connected to Britain’s armed forces and military service through her husband, who holds eight military appointments.

The Duke of Edinburgh is Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards.

In 2007, The Edward was made Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles after Britain’s infantry was restructured.

Sophie, Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie met veterans at Westminster Abbey

PA

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie has close ties to Britain's armed forces through her husband

PA

He also makes regular visits to the Battalion’s HQ in Northern Ireland and has met them while on operational duties

This has included their tours in Afghanistan in 2009, for which Sophie accompanied him, and most recently in Estonia where they are part of a NATO contingent facing down potential Russian aggression.

Edward has also been appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2006 and in 2008, was granted the title of Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Waddington.

In his youth, the Duke of Edinburgh spent three years in the Royal Marines as a University Cadet.