King’s pageant master is at odds with Royal British Legion and government over events for the big day

People will be asked to eat fish and chips and sing I Vow To Thee My Country around a chain of beacons to mark the 80th anniversary next year of the end of the second world war.

But the plans for 8 May, which are likely to involve the royal family and local councils, have failed to win the support of the government and the Royal British Legion, who have different – and arguably less traditional – ideas about how the day should be commemorated.