Buildings bask in red, white and blue light to commemorate VE Day

From Buckingham Palace to Battersea Power Station, historic landmarks across London basked in red, white and blue on Tuesday night to celebrate 80 years since Britain declared victory over Nazi Germany.

The King and Queen joined senior royals as they watched 23 current and historic military aircraft soar over Buckingham Palace.

And on Tuesday night, 83 monuments and attractions across the four nations and Channel Islands dazzled with British spendor to mark the special occasion.

The displays took place at 9pm and saw the likes of Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and St Paul’s Cathderal mark the occasion.

Other sites in London that shone the colours of the Union flag included the Twickenham Stadium, The Shard and several bridges across the River Thames.

Buildings across Penrith, Manchester and Blackpool were also flooded with patriotic light.

A service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence of remembrance on Thursday — exactly eight decades since then-prime minister Sir Winston Churchill declared that German forces had surrendered.

Pubs and bars in England and Wales, which usually close at 11pm, will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday.

Britons have also been urged to unite in streets, gardens and pubs, similar to how the country marked the end of the Second World War.