this is bbc news. the headlines... the prince of wales has led the uk in remembrance as locked—down communities fell silent for two minutes to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the second world war in europe. victory in europe was announced on this day in 1945 by the prime minister, sir winston churchill. winston churchill: this is. . .your victory! in all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. the red arrows flew over central london, and modern raf typhoons appear

overhead in edinburgh, cardiff and belfast. as events take place at home and online to pay tribute, some communities are still managing to hold socially distanced celebrations. in other news, there's to be limited easing of lockdown restrictions in wales, with people able to exercise more than once a day and garden centres re—opening. a two minute silence has been held across the united kingdom to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ve day. events are taking place all day, but public gatherings have been cancelled as the country remains

in lockdown because of coronavirus. victory in europe day marks the day in 1945 when britain and its allies accepted the unconditional surrender of nazi germany, bringing the war in europe to an end. the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall led the silence from balmoral, and the queen will address the nation this evening. our first report is from our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. in the streets largely deserted due to the lockdown, britain remembered and gave thanks for the day when the second world war in europe came to an end. the nation's tribute was led by the prince of wales with the duchess of cornwall at the war memorial on the balmoral estate. a cannon at edinburgh castle marked the start of a two—minute silence and carefully managed moments of remembrance across the nation.

at balmoral, as the silence ended, the prince of wales laid his wreath in tribute to the second world war generation which overcome the tyranny of nazi germany. the cost had been high. nearly 400,000 members of britain's armed services lost their lives in the second world war, and a further 60,000 civilians. over the white cliffs near dover, two spitfires, the wartime fighter aircraft which played such a key role in the defence of britain,

flying today in remembrance of the few, linking the community over which they flew with the events of 75 years ago. keeping watch is a man who led the english to victory in an earlier time. his column stands at the very centre of the commonwealth of nations. crowds below him, rejoicing day and night. on this day in 1945, many tens of thousands of people took to the streets in joyous celebration that the war in europe was over. the contrast with those same streets today is striking. mass commemorations have been made impossible but the nation's remembrance has been made all the more poignant by the coronavirus losses. all of us, who were born since 1945, are acutely conscious that we are everything we most value to the generation who won the second world war.

we remember the millions of people from across the united kingdom, from across the world, who came together in world war ii to fight for our shared values. values of freedom, of democracy, of peace. 75 years after the end of the second world war, a nation in lockdown looked beyond its present challenges to give thanks. thanks which will be expressed tonight in a special broadcast by the queen. nicholas witchell, bbc news. events are planned throughout the uk today, but the commemorations are taking a different tone, with large gatherings cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic and people urged to celebrate at home. but that's not preventing the occasion from being marked in style. duncan kennedy reports from portsmouth. you join us youjoin us in you join us in the home of the royal

navy. 0ver my shoulder here is the memorialfor navy. 0ver my shoulder here is the memorial for those navy. 0ver my shoulder here is the memorialfor those who navy. 0ver my shoulder here is the memorial for those who served in the royal navy and also the merchant navy. worth remembering that something like 50,000 members of the royal navy died during the course of the second world war, and although todayis the second world war, and although today is one for celebration with old those ve day is parties taking place this morning, and again this afternoon, we should also remember those who did not come home. last post plays. staring out from the portsmouth naval memorial, the list of some of those who couldn't come back and celebrate ve day. this morning, they made their absence felt on this national day of commemoration. i think our veterans need to be reminded how thankful we are for what they have achieved

and what they have done. i think it's also important to let them know they still inspire us today from that generation. off the coast of dover, where spitfires and hurricanes once defended the nation, the red arrows soared over, thrilling those below. in rutland, 96—year—old second world war glider veteran ken 0dell marking his own silence in his own way. # we're going to hang out the washing on the siegfried line... with today's two—minute silence came the first of the nationwide street parties. this was chester. coronavirus was not part of the planned ve day events so here and everywhere celebration has come with safety. this street would normally be having a big street party anyway, so why don't we try and do something here?

we waited until after the nhs clapped, we's had a drink, and i said, who fancies some singing? at wallington in surrey, they are getting ready for their party. up goes the bunting to connect with the nation's mood of gratitude and relief at war‘s end. i think the sacrifices people made back in 1939—45, without them we wouldn't be living in the world we live in today. this is a special moment — shared, collective. 0n ve day, winston churchill said, "even if it is a hard struggle, we will not be the ones who fail." we didn't fail. and now we mark that perseverance, determination and will to overcome. in a minute, we'll hear

about how france and russia are marking ve day, but first, jenny hill is in berlin for us... 75 years ago, the reichstag was in ruins, berlin was destroyed and germany defeated. today, berliners have a public holiday as this country commemorates not victory over but liberation from the nazis. germany's past still overshadows society and politics today. it's one of the reasons, for example, that germany has been reluctant to assume a more significant military role in overseas conflicts. today, 1600 international guests should have gathered here for commemorations. instead, because of the corona outbreak, events are rather more low—key. but today is still a chance for this country to reflect on the atrocities perpetuated in its name which, to this day, for many germans, remain a great source of shame.

well, in russia, it's may 9th which is celebrated as victory day, and it was a victory secured at enormous cost here. more than 27 million soviet citizens were killed in what russians refer to as the great patriotic war. and normally on victory day, there are big patriotic events taking place all over russia. but not this year. coronavirus has forced the kremlin to postpone what was going to be a massive military parade on red square and a big public event in the city centre afterwards. but president putin will be making an address to the russian people and there will be a fly past by the russian air force, 75 aircraft to mark 75 years since the defeat of nazi germany. never in 75 years of commemorations has the tomb of the unknown soldier here at the arc de triomphe been so empty. no crowds of dignitaries and onlookers, just a small group of ministers carefully spaced

around president macron. at a time when people are talking about about solidarity in crisis, world war ii brings up mixed memories for france. joy at liberation but also shame at the years of occupation that preceded it. 75 years ago today, that was something general charles de gaulle, then leader of the free french, understood. he framed the war as a story of national resistance to replace the memories of division and defeat. this morning, president macron laid a wreath at the statue of charles de gaulle here in paris. he's called on people to hang the colours of the french flag from their windows and balconies. a moment of shared european history remembered today in isolation. and we'll return to ve day celebrations in a few minutes' time.

i will be speaking to a veteran of that period serving in the royal navy at the time of ve day. we are bringing you some more updates about the coronavirus. the welsh first minister, mark drakeford, has announced that all stay at home regulations must stay in place for another three weeks, but that there are three modest changes to coronavirus restrictions in wales. first will be to the once—a—day exercise rule. because the more we learn about coronavirus, the evidence shows us that the risk of infection is reduced outdoors. we will adjust our regulations to allow people to be able to go outside to exercise more than once per day, but we will strengthen our regulations to make it clear that that exercise must be local. it should begin and end at home, and it should not involve any

significant travel away from home. our second planned change to the regulations will be to allow garden centres to open, provided that the two metre social distancing rules can be applied. and thirdly, we propose changing the regulations to allow local authorities to begin planning how safely to reopen libraries and municipal recycling centres. now, these very cautious changes will apply to everyone other than the 120,000 people in the shielding group, and it's really important that people in that group continue to follow the shielding advice they have received from the chief medical officer. and we continue to urge people who are over 70 or who have an underlying health condition, who are pregnant, to continue to take extra care

to protect themselves. let us get more from our correspondent thomas morgan, listening to that in cardiff for us. a few changes outlined, but it is interesting that the slight divergence depending on where you live in the uk. yes, i think trying to make clear, the first minister, that there are devolved governments in wales and trying to make sure that that is cemented in the minds of the welsh people. the message that he has outlined today under the changes he has made, as we said, that people will be allowed to go out more than once a day from monday. libraries reopen, recycling centres reopen and garden centres as well. yesterday, the education minister did say that schools will not reopen on the 1st ofjune. now, i think there has been some frustration from the welsh government that there has been mixed m essa 9 es government that there has been mixed messages in some of the uk

mainstream media, mixing some of the m essa 9 es mainstream media, mixing some of the messages from the different devolved governments, so the welsh government clear, wanting to get the message out there today before borisjohnson makes his announcement for what he will relieve some of his restrictions on sunday. the welsh government wanted to put something out there now to show they are ahead of the game, to show what they are going to be putting forward for the welsh people here. the first minister also saying that at the moment it was still too soon to make other changes, and the rest of the restrictions will be extended for another three weeks, and as i say, these key changes coming in on monday. the day after, borisjohnson makes his announcement on sunday. yes, thank you. interesting. let us ta ke yes, thank you. interesting. let us take a look at the situation in scotla nd take a look at the situation in scotland as well. a futher 49 people have died from coronavirus in scotland, taking the total numbers of deaths just over 1800. at the scottish government's daily

briefing, nicola sturgeon has stressed her committment to keeping the lockdown in place for the time being, and said there was a recognition that the different parts of the uk might need to move out of the lockdown at different speeds. yesterday, i, with the first ministers of wales and northern ireland, spoke to the prime minister andi ireland, spoke to the prime minister and i reiterated then that scotland was make lockdown restrictions would stay in place for now. there was, i think, a helpful recognition in that call that the four uk nations may well move at different speeds if our data and about the spread of the virus says that that is necessary to suppress it. but that we would of course continue to coordinate our planning and our messaging as far as possible, and i think that is helpful and welcome. in line with that, i confirmed the only change we are considering in the immediate term is to the guidance on outdoor exercise. i mentioned that yesterday, and i will give you a

further update on that over the weekend. nicola sturgeon there in the last hour. let us go to our correspondent james shaw in glasgow. the first minister leaving people and absolutely no doubt what she feels about the lockdown rules. that is right. you heard her saying that they are. the lockdown remains in place in scotland. with this one slightly minor tweak, really, place in scotland. with this one slightly minortweak, really, or possible tweak that over the weekend, she will make some announcement possibly about whether people might be allowed out of the house to exercise more than once per day, but on the face of it, from what we are hearing, particularly from wales, the lockdown is going to be, as faras from wales, the lockdown is going to be, as far as we can tell, just slightly stricter in scotland because there is not expected to be any announcement about gardening centres or other details like that. just strictly the possibility that there might be an allowance for slightly more outdoor exercise. 0ne of the other things that nicola sturgeon said during that brief and

just half an hour or so ago was that she did have her and the other leaders of the devolved administrations, they did have a telephone conference with boris johnson, the prime minister, yesterday. she described that as helpful, saying there was a recognition that the different parts of the united kingdom might need to move at different speeds as we come out of the lockdown, and that would really be driven by the possibility that the infection rate might be different in different parts of the country, and we have heard these hints from nicola sturgeon over the last couple of days that her experts think the infection rate might be slightly higher in scotland than other parts of the uk. therefore, there might be a slower speed at which scotland moves out of lockdown, but all that to be confirmed, and we expect some sort of update from nicola sturgeon over the weekend. of course, a lot of people will be wanting to go out over the weekend, so that announcement might have particular

significance for people in scotland, coming as it does in the next couple of days. thank you very much for now. it is 18 minutes past two. very good afternoon, you are watching bbc news, and we will return to our coverage of the commemorations of 75 yea rs coverage of the commemorations of 75 years since ve day. it's the memories of those who fought and lived through the war that bring the significance of the day to life. let us talk to one man with a remarkable story to tell us. i'm joined now byjohn roberts, a former royal navy captain and hejoins us and he joins us from and hejoins us from kent and he joins us from kent this afternoon. thank you very much for talking to us on bbc news. you spent ve day in canada. tell us your memories of that day, if you would. well, that today was very similar to

most capitals, probably, because the canadians were involved in world war ii, just as much as anybody else. it was of course five hours later than london because of the time difference, but i was based then at a canadian airforce training difference, but i was based then at a canadian air force training base at about 18 miles out of montreal, andi at about 18 miles out of montreal, and i would go out of montreal every weekend, because after i left my last shift in february, a canadian had said if you go to montreal, don't look up... well, myself and a friend did do this, the wife opened the door and said i've been waiting for you. it is yours for as long as you're here, so i was able to go up to montreal and i was there on the 8th of may. as i said, pretty wild, and the fire brigade took it into

their heads to drive around the city. i cannot remember, but about ten fire engines were roaring around the city and one stop not far from where i was, i hopped on it and was singing on the fire engine. your memories are so clear. i mean, you must have been so young. where you still a teenager? no, must have been so young. where you stilla teenager? no, iwasjust must have been so young. where you still a teenager? no, i wasjust 21. just 21, but you joined the navy remarkably young, didn't you?m those days, it would not be allowed now i suppose, ijoined the navy when i was 13 injanuary 1938, now i suppose, ijoined the navy when i was 13 injanuary1938, so i was still training at the college at dartmouth when war was declared in september of 39, and in september i joined my first ship, a battle cruiser. and you have described the celebrations brilliantly, and so

vividly, but by definition, there must have been sadness as well. where was the balance for you between celebration and thinking about those who had not made it? well, on these occasions, i think there are three groups. there are those like myself who come through alive and are very thankful for that. then there are our families who are equally relieved that their offspring or whoever are not going to be killed at any minute. and then, i say last, to be killed at any minute. and then, isay last, but to be killed at any minute. and then, i say last, but it should really be first, there are the people and their families of those who never came back, and as far as i was concerned, although on this occasion it was the end of the war in europe, i was training to be a pilot and when i completed that, i was going to an aircraft carrier in

the pacific tojoin was going to an aircraft carrier in the pacific to join with the americans are fighting the japanese. and you stayed in the forces for decades. i mean, a remarkable career. i never thought of it as decades, but it is for altogether. and how are you able to mark today? what are you able to do, given that the restrictions we are all currently under? well, i am looking out of the window of my study at a road that goes past the house, and there are flags all over the place, and my wife loves these sort of occasions. she is organising a street party, a street party whereby nobody comes closer than the two metres from anybody else, but there will be cakes. she has obtained a dvd of... that will be playing outside the window of one of our

rooms, and this will be going on most of the day until after the queen's speech. i shall be one who wa nts to queen's speech. i shall be one who wants to go to bed. that is not until much later tonight, and in fa ct i until much later tonight, and in fact i am going to be speaking to vera lynn's daughter this afternoon. what did that song mean to you out of interest? well, people say how brave you must have been, and i think when you are young, this was a business that was going on and one wa nted business that was going on and one wanted to be involved in it. and although i did have a girlfriend, i wasn't sort of romantically involved as it were at that time, so vera lynn's songs are great, but they did not mean as much to me as they did

for slightly older men. and just a thought about the subsequent generations. what have you told your children and grandchildren? how much did they know about your life and those of your contemporaries and what he went through? do you talk about it a lot? i do, yes. i know that a lot of people say that their father or grandfather never talked about the war. certainly in world war i. i think it is easier today. my war i. i think it is easier today. my grandson in sand wedge, he of course is not going back to school, but he is doing it from home on a computer, and yesterday he was writing an essay on the battle of the somme, which started injuly of the somme, which started injuly of the first 1916. i was delighted that this school are making it certain that children do remember. absolutely, and he must be very proud of you. thank you so much.

john roberts, very good of you to give us your time. a pleasure to speak to you and an honour to speak to you as well. enjoy that socially distance street party and everything your wife has made for that. thank your wife has made for that. thank you very much indeed. lovely to speak to you. john roberts. thank you very much, who was in montreal in canada on ve day and had just turned 21. pubs are often at the heart of the community, and many had plans to bring people together to mark ve day — but with lockdown restrictions still in place, many have looked —— you have to do whatjohn roberts is doing and have socially distanced celebrations. let's see what pubs are doing with this today. i am joined byjohn from bedfordshire, and he runs a pub. from bedfordshire pub the bell and michelle bennett from the eagle and child in manchester first to karl at the bell in bedfordshire.

we arejoined as we are joined as well by a woman who i’u ns we are joined as well by a woman who runs another pub. the bunting is up, fantastic to see. an opening thought from both of you if i may about what you are doing today, how much you can celebrate today. carol, i will start with you. it is such a fantastic day. i have already had the honour of having a spitfire fly over the village today and we are going to be have an afternoon tea outside, playing some wartime songs and just coming together. obviously apart. absolutely. michelle, what are you planning? we have sent bags out to all the neighbours down the road in the cottages with a raffle ticket that which we drawn for a free meal when we do open up. we are going out on the balcony, asking people to wear fancy dress, decorating gardens. we are going to have afternoon tea on the balcony and we have a gentleman, one of our

regulars called aim, and he is playing the —— he is called iiinnn, and he is playing the last post on his cornet this evening. it is fantastic that so much is going on but not quite in the way we all might not have liked. i am interested in both of your perspectives of what lockdown has been like, because it is a tough time obviously economically, but obviously emotionally. the pub is at the heart of so many communities. michelle, what have the last few weeks been like for you and your area that you serve? yes, we set up area that you serve? yes, we set up a whatsapp group with our customers where people have been able to interact with each other, trying to keep that community spirit going. virtually more than anything, which has been a bit of a struggle with the older generation, but we have been getting involved and there is an older gentleman who comes in, we got involved with him, making sure he has that extra care in place at home. just speaking to customers, because you do identify that there is some people who has this as their

only social interaction, and we are trying to keep in touch with them. only social interaction, and we are trying to keep in touch with them] are you able to do similarly? yes, obviously, we have had a distraction over the last couple of weeks with the events going on in the village a nyway the events going on in the village anyway due to captain tom's achievements, but we have been able to keep the elderly in touch with us and trying to make sure they are ok oi’ and trying to make sure they are ok or anybody that is shielded, but we have just got back together and we will get through it and get to the end. of course. and he mentioned him, captain tom, promoted to colonel, but we are seeing pictures of him now. we are also familiar with him now. what has this meant in your area? to be honest, it has been such a distraction, at such a hard time for everybody, and itjust fills me with joy that people have taken him into their hearts and want to be so kind to him. and i thought

from both of you about the future, ifi from both of you about the future, if i may. i know we are here today to talk about the ve day commemorations, but there are so many question marks for so many businesses and pubs and the leisure industry, it is going to be a tough time. michelle, first of all, what are you and your team starting to think about for the future and how you can keep going? how much are you able to plan at this stage? well, we're... it's the video is cutting out. sorry, michelle, we will see whether we can fix that. carl, perhaps i can ask you the same question while we sort things with michelle, to what extent is your tea m michelle, to what extent is your team able to plan for the future and think about a time when you can serve the communities in the way you used to only a few weeks ago? we're trying our best at the