The leaders of Britain’s three main political parties today took time out from negotiations over the formation of a new government to mark the 65th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg briefly turned their attention away from behind-the-scenes bartering in the wake of the election result to join war veterans and serving soldiers, sailors and airmen at a national service of commemoration at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
The event recalled the moment that second World War hostilities in Europe ended on May 8th, 1945.
On that date prime minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the fighting in a message broadcast to the nation but stressed the conflict was still being waged against Japan.
Those invited also included representatives of second World War associations, veterans of the conflict and serving members of Britain's armed forces.