On Monday, May 5, 2025, the British royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to witness a spectacular flypast by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows, marking the commencement of four days of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Alamy+15Sky News+15YouTube+15
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—as well as other senior royals. The family observed the aerial display, which featured 23 aircraft, including historic and modern military planes, culminating in the Red Arrows’ signature red, white, and blue smoke trails over the palace. Reuters+10InStyle+10People.com+10New York Post+1Sky News+1
Earlier in the day, a military procession comprising 1,300 personnel from the UK armed forces and allied nations, including the US, Germany, France, and Ukraine, marched through central London. The parade began at Parliament Square, passed the Cenotaph—draped in Union Flags for the first time since 1920—and concluded at Buckingham Palace. The Guardian+3Sky News+3The Guardian+3The Guardian+1Sky News+1
Actor Timothy Spall opened the proceedings with a reading of Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, setting a reflective tone for the day’s events. The Independent+4The Guardian+4Sky News+4
Following the flypast, the King and Queen hosted a tea party at the palace for Second World War veterans and evacuees. Among the guests was 99-year-old veteran Robert Piper, who shared memories of his service with the King. Another veteran, 98-year-old Joy Trew, recounted how King Charles kindly tucked a blanket around her to keep her warm during the outdoor events. YouTube+9The Guardian+9The Standard+9The Independent+1The Standard+1The Standard+2The Independent+2CBS News+2
This year’s VE Day commemorations are particularly poignant, as they may be the last major anniversary attended by a significant number of living World War II veterans. The royal family’s participation underscores the nation’s enduring gratitude for the sacrifices made during the war and the importance of preserving these memories for future generations. Sky News+4The Independent+4The Guardian+4
The celebrations will continue throughout the week, culminating on May 8 with a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey and various events across the UK, including street parties and exhibitions honoring the wartime generation. The Independent+8People.com+8People.com+8