King Charles and royals gather for military parade

4/5/2025 12:27

Britain's King Charles and senior royals will join veterans and crowds to watch a grand military parade and flypast at the start of four days of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of "VE Day" - the end of fighting in Europe in World War Two.



The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany came into force on May 8, 1945, known as Victory in Europe Day, and the British government has planned a series of events to mark the anniversary.



These will begin on Monday when London's famous Big Ben clock strikes midday and extracts from British war leader Winston Churchill's VE Day speech will be read out.



More than 1,300 members of Britain's armed forces will then process through central London from outside parliament to Buckingham Palace, watched by the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and veterans of the conflict.



Ukrainian armed forces will also take part to show Britain's support for its war against Russia.



As the procession concludes, there will be a flypast by historic military aircraft and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatics display team, watched by the royals from the balcony of Buckingham palace.