It's been 75 years since the German Army surrendered, which brought an end to the Second World War in Europe.
It prompted spontaneous celebrations and street parties across Britain, which were to be replicated this weekend as part of commemorations to mark the milestone.
But those plans fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
The Red Arrows planes painted the skies blue, white and red while down below there were plans to paint the town red too, but instead, streets are empty.
The public wasn't even told about the flyover to prevent the mass breaching of lockdown rules. Instead, Brits were urged to stay home and commemorate it quietly. Some streets got into the spirit while keeping their distance from neighbours.
A gun salute at Edinburgh Castle marked the beginning of a nationwide two-minutes of silence. Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined from Downing St, so too did Prince Charles and Camilla, as well as the leaders of Scotland and Wales.
A concert planned at the Royal Albert Hall went ahead - but with no audience. The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a service on his phone, from his home.
A special veterans' procession was meant to come down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, but instead it's a procession of cyclists and others out for their daily bit of exercise. St James' Park was to be re-named 'Victory Park' for the weekend and thousands of people would've been there.
It aimed to replicate scenes from 1945, when tens of thousands gathered to celebrate with Winston Churchill, the King, and Princess Elizabeth, who as today's Queen, addressed the nation exactly 75 years to the minute since her father's VE Day broadcast.
Scaled-back commemorations were also held in France. President Macron lit a flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe before signing a commemorative book, sanitising his hands, and leaving down an abandoned Champs Elysse.
Similarly in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel laid a wreath and reflected on a war that changed Europe - and much of the world - forever.
