'No other Briton can rival your achievements,' Boris Johnson tells veterans in VE Day letter

In a letter penned by the Prime Minister “with deep humility” to mark VE Day, he told those surviving servicemen that “no other generation of Briton can rival your achievements” and that the “survival of our country - and of freedom everywhere - rested in your hands”.

Mr Johnson told veterans that “the world today would be unrecognisable and safe only for oppressors” if those who fought against Hitler had failed.

“But you did not yield,” he wrote. “You persevered through every ordeal and hardship and you prevailed against a ruthless enemy, achieving victory 75 years ago.”

Mr Johnson said the generation was “simply the greatest generation of Britons who ever lived” and said many of those born after 1945 would not be here at all - or would not live freely - without them.

And he recognised the downfall of Hitler was not inevitable.

“You will remember moments of crisis, even desperation, as our country endured setback, defeat, and grievous loss,” he said.

“What made the difference was your valour, fortitude, and quiet yet invincible courage.”

He also paid tribute to women on the Home Front, who he said “broke enemy codes, worked the factories, sustained the economy, and fired anti-aircraft guns, even as our cities were bombed night after night.”

He added: “And all the while, on battlefronts across the world, our soldiers, sailors, and airmen fought a remorseless enemy.”

The letter was released after Mr Johnson visited Westminster Abbey yesterday to pay his respects to those veterans who had died, and today after observing the two-minute silence in Downing street he will speak with a Second World War veteran via a video call.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will lead the two-minute silence from their residence in Scotland, broadcast on television and radio.

And the Prince of Wales will later read extracts from his grandfather King George VI’s diary documenting his experience of VE Day.

This will include the then-King’s relief the war was over, the Royal Family’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, and lunch with Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Flypasts have also been arranged by the Royal Air Force in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the Red Arrows will fly over London.

Modern RAF Tycoons will fly over Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has also recorded a message of reflection to mark the day, and extracts from Sir Winston Churchill's victory speech will be broadcast throughout the day.

A special broadcast from the Queen will be aired at 9pm followed by a national signalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again where the public will be encouraged to join in from their doorsteps and front gardens.

Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson will read the recently discovered Edmund Blunden poem, VE Day.

Mr Johnson said: “75 years ago today, the people of this country celebrated victory against Hitler’s aggression.

“On the frontline, they fought with courage, ingenuity and endurance, and on the Home Front, women defended our cities against air raids, worked the factories and ran the hospitals.

“This country triumphed thanks to the heroism of countless ordinary people, and because of this, hundreds of millions of people now live in peace and freedom today.

“Today we must celebrate their achievement, and we remember their sacrifice.

“We are a free people because of everything our veterans did - we offer our gratitude, our heartfelt thanks and our solemn pledge: you will always be remembered.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “The UK Armed Forces will start the 75th anniversary of VE Day with sunrise commemorations and will continue to honour their predecessors throughout the day and across the country.

“Although we cannot celebrate that precious connection with our veterans on the scale we had planned, we should all pause and reflect on their inspirational achievement. As Churchill said, ‘god bless you all, this is your victory’.”

Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, also paid tribute in a video message released this morning "the millions of people from across the United Kingdom and from across the world" who helped secure victory in the Second World War.

He praised the “shared values” of those who stood together and highlighted the legacy of “those that rebuilt and renewed our country after the war.”

He said: “In normal times we would be paying tribute to their achievements in street parties, in gatherings and events at the Cenotaph. This year we can't do that.”

He added: “We commemorate those who stood together for a better future. We remember their service, and also their sacrifice.”